Peyton Stearns, former Longhorn and 2022 NCAA singles champion, made her US Open debut on Tuesday.

Because of her efforts in winning the 2022 NCAA individual singles title, she earned a wild card spot in this year’s US Open, meaning she did not have to fight her way through qualifying rounds. Winning the NCAA singles title comes with a trophy, recognition and a free entry into one of tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments, the sport’s biggest and brightest stages.

“I want to be qualifying for these events on my own,” Stearns told Universal Tennis in the lead-up to the tournament. “I don’t really need wild card help.”

Facing off against Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No. 28-seeded player in the tournament, Stearns had a challenge ahead of her. After dropping the first set 4-6, Stearns needed to step up her play.

In a tightly contested second set, the former Longhorn found herself up 5-3 with a chance to serve for the set. A couple of unforced errors helped Alexandrova break, however, and get back on serve. Stearns then returned the favor, breaking and taking the second set 6-4, forcing a decisive third set.

The most important set of Stearns’ professional career was anything but ordinary. She earned an early break in the second set, but was broken right back. Alexandrova then held serve and broke again, taking a 3-2 lead.

After a rain delay halted play, Stearns was given the chance to regroup and rethink strategy with her coach Gabi Trifu, returning to play the next day. It seemed to work, because when the two took the court early in the afternoon on Wednesday, Stearns earned a quick break to even it back up at 4-4 after a down-the-line winner

The next couple of games went back and forth, ultimately leading to 5-5. With a chance to serve and ensure a tiebreaker, the pressure appeared to get to Stearns. Up early in the game, a couple of errors gave Alexandrova a break point, and all she needed was one look at it. 

After Alexandrova capitalized to make it 6-5, it was do-or-die for Stearns, needing to win the next game to force a tiebreaker. With Stearns up 40-15 and one point away from tying it up, Alexandrova hit an ace and forced an error from her opponent to save two break points.

Stearns didn’t receive any beginner’s luck on match point for Alexandrova. After a short rally, the Russian hit a forehand that clipped the top of the net and landed on Stearns’ side.

Although it wasn’t the debut Stearns hoped for, she showed fight and grit against top professional competition and earned $80,000 for her opening round appearance.

After an illustrious two-year Texas career, Stearns announced her decision to turn professional in June. Since then, she has spent her time training and playing various Women’s Tennis Association events. Recently, she tried fighting her way through the qualifiers of her home tournament in Ohio, the Western & Southern Open.

The Mason, Ohio product won her first match of qualifying at the event. The home crowd cheered her on, but Stearns ultimately fell to fellow American Taylor Townsend in a second-round qualifying match.

Stearns is currently ranked No. 432 in the world in singles and No. 332 in doubles, but she’s set on quickly improving those rankings in the near future.

“By the end of 2023, I want to be top 150 in the world, possibly top 100,” Stearns said.