From the grit of Serena Williams at the 2011 US Open, battling a pulmonary embolism to edge Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5, to Coco Gauff’s epic three-hour, four-minute comeback against Qinwen Zheng at the 2024 WTA Finals, the WTA is a showcase of true warriors. Gauff, after falling behind, rallied to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), becoming the youngest champion in two decades and earning a record $4.8 million payout. Now, Peyton Stearns brings that same relentless spirit to Rome, ready to ride out the hardest waves on court. “Dig deep” has never been more fitting.
On Monday, Stearns edged out four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a gripping three-set battle, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4). The match stretched to 2 hours and 41 minutes and was briefly interrupted by a dramatic flyover from Italy’s Frecce Tricolori air force display team. Late in the contest, fatigue appeared to weigh on the No. 42-ranked Stearns. In her on-court interview, she shared how she managed to push through.
She said, “I think the tiebreaker, I was just trying not to throw up in the middle of the court. I wasn’t feeling the best, but I dug so deep. I don’t think that I’ve dug that deep in a while. So it was a great match.” What a moment that was!
Peyton Stearns after beating Naomi Osaka in Rome
“I think in the tiebreak I was just trying not to throw up in the middle of the court. I wasn’t feeling the best. I dug deep. I don’t think I’ve dug that deep in a while.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 12, 2025
The Centrale crowd witnessed an intense final set. Osaka was pushed back by Stearns’ heavy forehand. Osaka hit 10 aces among her 26 winners, but Stearns dominated with 26 winners to Osaka’s 16. After Osaka surged to a 2-0 lead in the third set, Stearns fought back with a four-game run to lead 4-2. The four-time grand slam champion leveled at 4-4. The ninth game was a thriller, with Stearns saving five break points and hitting key forehand winners.
She overturned a 4-2 deficit in the tiebreak and sealed the win as Osaka netted a backhand. Stearns showed incredible resilience despite battling nausea late in the match. However, almost immediately after sealing her win, she got behind the umpire’s chair to throw up onto the floor.
Her strategy to “dig deep” is truly pushing her through this tournament. While this time she made it past Naomi Osaka, in her previous match, she opened up about how she feels taking down top players around her.
Peyton opens up about tough challenges at the Italian Open
On May 10, Peyton Stearns showed serious grit in an all-American showdown at the 2025 Italian Open Round of 16. The 23-year-old battled back from the brink to topple 2025 Australian Open champ Madison Keys in a thrilling three-setter, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3). With this victory, she not only reached her first Round of 16 in Rome but also improved to 2-0 against Keys, proving she can handle the heat against big hitters.
In a post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Stearns reflected on what gave her the edge. “Yeah, I mean it was really tight in that tiebreaker. Three all and I just remember thinking like just dig deep for four points, you know… find a way out, just really tough it out, make it physical and, you know, I felt like I did a really good job of that.” Her positive body language and fighting spirit were key ingredients in this heavyweight clash.
The match was a physical war, with Stearns expertly managing Keys’ powerful game. Their previous meeting in Toronto ended early due to Keys’ injury, but this time Stearns held her nerve. She led twice by a break in the final set, only for Keys to claw back both times and force a tiebreak. In that tense moment, Stearns pulled off a stunning drop-shot-pass combo to take a crucial 5-3 lead and seal the win.
Looking ahead, Stearns will face either Elina Svitolina or Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals. Neither is currently in the Top 10, but both have been there before. Svitolina at No. 3 and Collins at No. 7. The challenge is real, but if Stearns keeps digging deep, she could keep this dream run alive. What do you think- can she keep the momentum going?
The post “Just Trying Not to Throw Up,” Peyton Stearns Relives a Difficult Match After Monumental Win Over Naomi Osaka in Rome appeared first on EssentiallySports.
