By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 27, 2026
Picture credit score: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
Peyton Stearns confirmed she’s Texas powerful combating into her fourth profession semifinal in Austin.
Stearns transformed her fourth match level subduing Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 thrilling followers in her adopted residence of Austin to achieve her first Tour-level semifinal since Rome final Might.
It wasn’t simple and it wasn’t fairly at instances, however the 2022 NCAA champion for Texas flashed the Longhorns signal to supportive followers, together with Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey, after a hard-fought two hour, 31-minute triumph.
The fourth-seeded Stearns squandered a 4-3 second-set lead then went up 3-0 within the third set solely to see the 76th-ranked Selekhmeteva surge via 4 consecutive video games to edge forward 4-3.
Stearns broke at love and served for the semifinal at 5-4. On her first match level, Stearns netted a forehand. Then Selekhmeteva confirmed guts carving a daring drop shot that helped her break again for 5-all.
Going proper again to work, Stearns drained three errors breaking once more for 6-5.
On her second match level, Stearns steered a backhand drop shot vast then netted a slice forehand on her third match level.
Establishing for her favored forehand, Stearns lashed forehands down reverse sidelines organising a smash for a fourth match level. When Selekhmeteva missed a return vast, Stearns was via to her fourth Tour-level semifinal.
The 62nd-ranked Stearns will play Kimberly Birrell for a spot in Sunday’s ultimate.
In an all-Aussie quarterfinal, Birrell beat good buddy Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3 changing 5 of 11 break factors.
“I respect Ajla a lot on and off the court docket,” Birrell stated. “She’s such a fantastic participant so I knew I used to be gonna must put my finest foot ahead. I believe it was necessary to again myself on the large factors as we speak and I believe I did.
“It’s all the time powerful to play towards a good friend. I had the identical scenario yesterday once I performed Caroline Dolehide. It’s clearly powerful, however hold concentrated, play one level at a time and naturally we’re pals as quickly because the match is completed.”
Earlier, Taylor Townsend rallied previous Rebeka Masarova 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
The left-handed Townsend saved 11 of 14 break factors in a two hour, 20-minute victory that vaults her into her first Tour-level singles semifinal.
Former junior world No. 1 Townsend will play both compatriot Ashlyn Krueger or fortunate loser Yue Yuan for a spot within the ultimate.
