Rome: Peyton Stearns doesn’t regret tweeting through coaching switch

ROME, Italy—When Peyton Stearns learned her coaching relationship with Tom Hill had ended back in April, she took it in stride. Then she took to social media.

“I wasn’t going to take to social media but due to some factors,” she said with a wink, “I took to social media. I thought it was appropriate. I was going to keep things private but other people didn’t keep it private, so I decided to go to social media. I kind of had fun with it and even got some DMs from some random people that were quite funny. I got a kick out of it.”

Stearns jokingly advertised the need for a new coach with a choice GIF, and later updated her social media bios to further illustrate her coachlessness. But besides the posting, the world No. 42 wasn’t overly concerned—even as the clay-court swing was fast approaching.

“When I got the news, I was actually going to the Masters the next day, so it was actually nice to be able to put the phone away and not have to see it all day, just relax and focus on the golf and whatnot. Luckily, I keep my family and friends really tight, and there were so many solutions where, if I couldn’t find someone, there’d be people who would be there for me until I did. There were so many people reaching out.

“I knew that at the end of the day, if you needed to play without a coach for a tournament, you can. It’s not the end of the world. It’s you out there. You just need some support around you. I think that’s the best way to answer that.”

Instead of the worst-case scenario, Stearns found herself in the midst of a temporary arrangement with Blaz Kavcic, a former ATP world No. 68. Though she hadn’t sourced him through Twitter/X, she quickly realized she’d found her match.

“I was recommended Blaz through a mutual friend and he was very highly spoken of. He worked with Max [Purcell] a bit last year and then unfortunately Max is out. He was looking for a job and I was told, ‘I think you guys could work really well together.’ I said, ‘You know what? Let’s give this guy a shot in Madrid and let’s go from there.’

“Madrid was the trial run and I think even before my first round started, I was like, ‘I think you’re hired. I like you!’ We meshed really well together because going into the first round, I was like, ‘Win or lose, I can already see in these couple days what kind of person he is.’ He’s willing to really, really work, and I like to work a lot too, so it works out well.”

A more confident Stearns has taken the clay swing by storm, reaching back-to-back fourth rounds in Madrid and Rome after surviving a third-set tiebreaker against reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Madrid was the trial run and I think even before my first round started, I was like, ‘I think you’re hired. I like you!’ We meshed really well together...Peyton Stearns on new coach Blaz Kavcic

“Going into Madrid, I hadn’t had a lot of wins this year but I got that confidence through him and every day being out on court feeling like I’ve put in a lot of work, but also a lot of positivity.

“He came with a spark and really helped me finetune some things in the game that needed it.”

Stearns had struggled through close matches under Hill, who returned to work with longtime pupil Maria Sakkari. At the Australian Open she lost a heartbreaking three-setter to fellow American Emma Navarro, but was far more clutch at the Foro Italico, employing impressive variety to outlast Keys on Grand Stand Arena.

“Now I know how to slide, luckily,” joked Stearns, who largely grew up on the indoor hard courts available in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“We had that country club green clay courts and I hated them. I would always prefer to hit on hard. So, I don’t know why but I like them. I think it really suits my game, as little as I get to train on them, I love playing on them.

“As a junior, no one really taught you how to move and play. I was so used to playing on hard indoor courts that you’d go outside on the clay like, ‘I can’t finish the point in three shots!’ You had to keep going; it was aggravating. I was a junior playing these kids and they were just rolling the ball and I was like, ‘I want to hit a winner!’ and it just wasn’t working.”

Pleased with the fan response and on course for a career-best clay season, Stearns has no regrets about tweeting through her coaching switch.

“I got e. coli earlier this year and you know, shit happens! You’ve gotta live with it, roll with the flow. You’re gonna have ups and downs; it’s just the way of life. So, you’ve just got to accept that.”