Among the rising American tennis stars, Peyton McKenzie Stearns has had one of the most consistent performances in the tour over the past few years. After coming from collegiate tennis, she has started to make a name for herself through decisive victories and deep runs in high-level tournaments.
Within a few years of turning professional, she reached WTA finals, defeated multiple top-10 players, and climbed steadily in the world rankings, in which she currently is among the Top 40.
While her on-court performance continues to capture headlines, questions also arise about her background, her early beginnings in tennis, and the trajectory of her career. Check out everything you need to know about this rising talent.
How old is Peyton Stearns?
Peyton Stearns was born on October 8, 2001. As of July 2025, she is 23 years old. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. According to her biography on the WTA site, she started playing tennis aged eight.
Stearns during the 2025 Rome Open (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
How tall is Peyton Stearns?
Peyton Stearns is 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) tall.
Peyton Stearns’ family
Stearn comes from an athletic family in Ohio. Her mother, Denise Stearns was a member of the UT gymnastics team. Meanwhile, her brother Preston, plays tennis at Ohio State University.
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She told Reporting Texas back in 2023, “I think the fact my parents raised two tennis players who went to top D1 schools with little to no knowledge of tennis is crazy, especially when most tennis players originate from tennis families or know what they are doing.”
Peyton Stearn’s education: Where did she go to college?
Before becoming professional, Peyton joined the University of Texas at Austin, where she played for two seasons before turning professional in June 2022. She majored in Applied Movement Science.
Peyton’s career highlights
Stearns turned professional in June 2022 after winning the NCAA Division I Women’s Singles National Championship, becoming the first woman from the University of Texas to do so. She made her WTA main-draw debut in 2021 and competed in her first Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open.
Stearns during 2025 Wimbledon Championships (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
In 2023, she reached her first WTA final at the Copa Colsanitas and advanced to the fourth round of the US Open, breaking into the top 50 rankings. That same year, she also recorded her first top-20 victory at the French Open.
In 2024, Stearns captured her first WTA Tour title at the Rabat Grand Prix. She followed that with a breakthrough 2025 season, reaching her first WTA 1000 semifinal at the Italian Open after consecutive wins over Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, and Elina Svitolina. By May 2025, she achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 28.
Who is Peyton Stearn’s coach?
Stearn is currently working with Blaz Kavcic, a former ATP world No. 68. They have been working together since May 2025, when she and her former coach, Tom Hill, ended their contract. She has also worked with Eric Hechtman.
