NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
American tennis player Peyton Stearns received an unusual request from a fan at the Australian Open when she defeated No. 27 Sofia Kenin in straight sets on Monday, 6-3, 6-2.
Stearns wrote on social media that she wanted the fan who “barked” at her to do it again when she faces Croatia’s Petra Marcinko in the second round.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Peyton Stearns reacts during her match against Sofia Kenin at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aarón Favila)
“Whoever barked at me during my match today, please keep it up until the next round,” he wrote on X.
The barking may have been a motivation for Stearns, 24, who is only making his third appearance at the Australian Open. He had 15 aces and was 3 of 7 on break points against Kenin.
Kenin committed four double faults and couldn’t seem to find the rhythm to get past Stearns.
VENUS WILLIAMS BECOMES THE OLDEST WOMAN IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN MAIN DRAW WITH WILD CARD ENTRY
Sofia Kenin returns with a forehand against Peyton Stearns at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Monday, January 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aarón Favila)
Stearns made her Women’s Tennis Association debut in 2021 at the Silicon Valley Classic as an alternate in the doubles draw. A year later, he participated as a wild card in the US Open.
Stearns has one career WTA title. She won five tournaments on the International Tennis Federation circuit and finished runner-up four times.
Peyton Stearns plays a forehand return at the Australian Open, Monday, January 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aarón Favila)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
At the Australian Open the past two years, Stearns only reached the first round. She lost to Emma Navarro last year and Daria Kasatkina in 2024.
