Peyton Stearns beat Ons Jabeur 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 in their first head-to-head match on Center Court to move into the second round at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Jabeur earned an early break at deuce in the first game and held serve to take a 2-0 lead after saving a break point in the second game. Stearns converted her second break-back point in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2.
Jabeur earned a second break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead earning a chance to serve for the first set, but she was not able to earn a set point in a long game featuring three deuces and Stearns converted her fourth break point after a forehand error from Jabeur.
Both players held their next service games en route to the tie-break. Stearns earned two set point at 6-5 after Jabeur made a double fault and at 7-6. Stearns converted her second set point with a forehand return winner to close out the tie-break
Stearns came back from a break down to clinch the first set in a tie-break 8-6 after 86 minutes.
Jabeur saved three break points in the first game of the second set but she received treatment from the physiotherapist on her left leg. Stearns earned an early break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Jabeur earned two break points in an eight-deuce game before Stearns held serve for 5-3.
Stearns fended off one more break point at 5-4, but she held firm and sealed the win on her first match point with a powerful forehand.
Stearn won nearly 70% of her first serve points. “It was pretty tough today. I was not 100%, but I have tried my best. I just didn’t want to retire from the match. I wanted to try more and see how it goes”, said Stearns.
