Peyton Stearns Says Danielle Collins Pulled Her Out of a Mental Rut — And It Changed Everything

The 22-year-old rising American tennis star recently opened up about a moment that could have changed her career — and it wasn’t about a big match or a trophy. It was about a conversation, a few simple words from someone who had been there before: Danielle Collins.

Last season at Indian Wells, when Stearns was stuck in one of those rough patches that every athlete knows too well, Collins noticed. And instead of just walking by, she stopped, sat down, and reminded Peyton of something she badly needed to hear.

“I wasn’t having the best start to the year,” Stearns admitted. “Danielle came over and just told me straight:
‘Your career is long. There will be highs and lows. Don’t let a few bad months make you lose hope. Things can turn around so fast in tennis. Just hang in there.’

When Kind Words Matter More Than Practice

It wasn’t a technical fix or a pep talk about grinding harder. It was real. It was human. And for Stearns, it made all the difference.

“When you’re losing, it feels like the walls are closing in,” she said. “To have someone who’s been through it tell you, ‘Hey, it’s normal’ — that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”

It’s easy to think of professional tennis players as lone warriors, traveling the world, chasing points and prize money. But behind the scenes? They’re human too. They feel the pressure, the doubt, the loneliness.

Sometimes, what you need most isn’t a new coach or better fitness — it’s someone reminding you that you’re not broken, you’re just growing.

Bianca Andreescu and Alexandra Eala: Another Quiet Story of Support

Peyton isn’t the only young star who’s finding comfort in unexpected places.

Recently, Canadian tennis champ Bianca Andreescu shared that she reached out to Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala, offering friendship and support.

Andreescu knows that feeling all too well. Early in her career, she often felt isolated and overwhelmed. She didn’t want another young player to go through the same thing without a friend in their corner.

“Tennis can be a lonely road,” Andreescu said. “I just wanted her to know I’m here if she ever needs someone.”

These small, real moments off the court — the texts, the advice, the quiet check-ins — might just be what keeps these young talents chasing their dreams instead of giving up when it gets hard.

Tennis Is Changing, And That’s a Good Thing

For decades, tennis was sold as a battle of individuals. You versus the world. No teammates. No help. Just survive.

But players like Peyton Stearns, Danielle Collins, Bianca Andreescu, and Alexandra Eala are showing us a better way forward:
You can be competitive and still be compassionate.
You can chase greatness and still lift others up.

In a time when mental health matters more than ever, the next generation of tennis stars isn’t just fighting for trophies — they’re fighting for each other.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s what will make them truly unstoppable.