Hailey Baptiste has produced the shock of the year, stunning world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open quarter-finals.
Sabalenka looked set for a comfortable victory after taking the opening set 6-2 at the Caja Magica.
However, the American 30th seed had other ideas, roaring back to claim the second set 6-2.
Sabalenka is OUT in Madrid! How would you rate the Belarusian’s performance out of 10? 🤔
After saving six match points, Baptiste closed out the final set 7-6: winning the final set tie-break 8-6.
Sabalenka, who completed the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ in Indian Wells and Miami last month, has now seen her 15-match win streak ended.
As for Baptiste, the American will compete in her first WTA 1000 semi-final later this week.
Hailey Baptiste emulates Serena Williams’ Madrid Open feat
As per statisticians OptaAce, Hailey Baptiste is the second American to defeat the world number one at the Madrid Open.
Serena Williams was the first player to do so.
Williams, seeded ninth at the 2012 Madrid Open, defeated world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the final.
Baptiste, who has reached the semi-finals on her tournament debut, could not hide her pride while speaking to the Tennis Channel
“Incredible. Super proud of myself,” she said. “It was super tight. 7-6 in the third. Had to fight off match points.
When asked what the victory will do for her confidence, the American added: “It just shows me where my game lies. I’ve always believed it. Now I’m starting to put it into action and the world is seeing it as well.”
Hailey Baptiste’s Madrid Open run
- Round one: BYE
- Round two: defeated Kaitlin Quevedo 6-1, 6-4
- Round three: defeated Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-3
- Round four: defeated Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
- Quarter-finals: defeated Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-2, 7-6
- Semi-finals: Mirra Andreeva
In an interview with the Tennis Channel desk, Baptiste delved into her game-plan against the world number one.
“I think going in I definitely wanted to make her feel uncomfortable in any way that I could,” the American began. “Trying to hit drop shots, short slices, heavier balls.
“Just didn’t want to give her rhythm obviously because that’s what she loves and that’s what she’s so good at, and beginning was obviously a little difficult for me to find the ball and get comfortable, but once I did I think I was able to execute the game-plan really well and she was just unhappy.”
Hailey Baptiste’s previous match against Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva has enjoyed an impressive run in the Spanish capital, defeating Leylah Fernandez on her way to the semi-final stage.
In the last four, Andreeva faces Hailey Baptiste – a player whom the youngster has beaten once before.
Andreeva played Baptiste in the third round of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, defeating the American 6-1, 6-3.
“I felt like I was playing great,” Andreeva said in her post-match press conference. “I knew that the match is going to be tough because I felt like she was playing super free and she was going for her shots.
“My goal for the match was just to stay focused and also be aggressive. So I’m super happy with my level today.”
Andreeva went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Belinda Bencic.
