Coming home easier now for tennis pro Peyton Stearns
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Peyton Stearns poses with her trophy after her pre-tournament win in Mason. Photo: Courtesy of the Cincinnati Open
For Peyton Stearns, coming home for the Cincinnati Open means family, friends, familiar restaurants — and quality time with Peebles, her 2-year-old Maltipoo.
Yes, but: The world No. 57 had to learn how to balance all that with the reason she's home in the first place: tennis.
Serving the news: Stearns grew up just 5 miles from the Lindner Family Tennis Center, making this tournament unlike any other stop on her schedule.
The intrigue: It was difficult at first to balance preparation with socializing with family and friends.
- "But now they understand that this is essentially a job for me," Stearns tells Axios, noting they come out to her practices and visit afterward.
Zoom in: Stearns also gets to play hometown tour guide when visiting players ask where they should go.
- Her recommendations include Tony’s of Cincinnati on Montgomery Road, Two Cities Pizza in Mason, the Loveland Bike Trail, and Newport on the Levee.
Home also comes with familiar faces, including childhood friend and fellow pro Caty McNally, who's also in the Cincinnati Open field.
Stearns once felt pressure to perform in front of people she grew up with, but now she sees them as fuel when things get tough.
- That hometown boost helped her win the pre-tournament Red Bull Baseline event on Center Court.
- "They’re here to support me, and if I’m down 0-6, 0-5, they’re going to help push me to that finish line and that kind of thing."