Hailey Baptiste retired from her second-round match at Roland Garros with a serious knee injury.
The American screamed out in pain, immediately receiving medical attention on Court Six.
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During TNT Sports’ French Open coverage, Baptiste’s countrywoman, Sloane Stephens, shared her thoughts on the injury.
Sloane Stephens hopes Hailey Baptiste’s injury is a hyperextension and not something more intense
“That is absolutely devastating and heartbreaking,” said Stephens.
“I took my earpiece out because I don’t want to hear [her screaming], it’s so painful.
“It hurts so bad for Hailey [Baptiste], because this is the best tennis she’s ever played in her career, the highest ranking she’s ever been to, just signed a Nike contract.
“Everything is looking up, things are amazing.
“And it’s just unfortunate, because also here, in 2021, she tore, I think, her ACL.
“I hope it’s not her ACL today; hopefully, it’s like a hyperextension, something that’s not as intense.
“But seeing that video, hearing her scream… injuries are so tough and so hard, especially when you’re at the top of your game and playing the best tennis of your career, you just hate to see that.”
TNT Sports pundits: Sam Querrey, Caroline Wozniacki, and John Isner were also on hand to comment.
“I can’t even watch it, my heart breaks for her,” said Querrey.
“It makes it worse that she’s playing the best tennis of her career.
“The run in Madrid, the first round win here was amazing!
“Saved a couple of match points…
“To hear it, I have no words. I couldn’t feel worse for her.”
“But also as a parent, her dad jumped right out there and wanted to help, and he was pushed back. As a parent, ugh, I don’t even want to think about it,” added Wozniacki.
“It’s awful, as we all said, hopefully the pain was intense in the moment, but hopefully without being crazy serious.”
“She’s likely out for a while now,” said Isner.
“There’s one thing about Hailey, she’s tough as nails. She’s already overcome a serious knee injury before. It’s a super tough pill to swallow, but if anyone can get over it again, it’s her; she’s tough, she’s resilient.
“But obviously, this is brutal, brutal for everyone to see this. Feel so bad for her.”
Baptiste was indeed playing some of the best tennis of her career before the injury, threatening to break into the world’s top 20.
Hailey Baptiste beat the world number one on clay this year
Baptiste enjoyed a solid clay season, peaking at the Madrid Open.
There, the American defeated the likes of Jasmine Paolini and Bencic to set up a quarter-final match against the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka.
The Belarusian had only lost one match all year, the Australian Open final.
Baptiste was a big underdog, but delivered one of the finest performances of her career to defeat Sabalenka in three sets.
Hailey Baptiste’s 2026 clay-court record (7-5)
- Charleston Open 2R [LOSS] vs Renata Zarazua, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6
- Open de Rouen 1R [WIN] vs Jessika Ponchet, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
- Open de Rouen 2R [LOSS] vs Iryna Shymanovich, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6
- Madrid Open 2R [WIN] vs Kaitlin Quevedo, 6-1, 6-4
- Madrid Open 3R [WIN] vs Jasmine Paolini, 7-5, 6-3
- Madrid Open 4R [WIN] vs Belinda Bencic, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
- Madrid Open QF [WIN] vs Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6
- Madrid Open SF [LOSS] vs Mirra Andreeva, 4-6, 6-7
- Italian Open 2R [WIN] vs Simona Waltert, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
- Italian Open 3R [LOSS] vs Elina Svitolina, 1-6, 2-6
- French Open 1R [WIN] vs Barbora Krejcikova, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2
- French Open 2R [LOSS] vs Wang Xiyu, 4-5 (RET)
Despite losing her semi-final match, Baptiste announced herself as a true clay-court contender.
She couldn’t repeat the feat in Rome, although her third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina aged well, as the Ukrainian went on to win the title.
Baptiste currently sits 28th in the ‘Live WTA Rankings’, and looked to be heading for the top-20 before her injury.
Live WTA Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 24 | Emma Navarro | USA | 1,779 |
| 25 | Marie Bouzkova | Czechia | 1,631 |
| 26 | Madison Keys | USA | 1,602 |
| 27 | Ann Li | USA | 1,601 |
| 28 | Hailey Baptiste | USA | 1,513 |
| 29 | Anastasia Potapova | Austria | 1,470 |
| 30 | Wang Xinyu | China | 1,431 |
| 31 | Katerina Siniakova | Czechia | 1,422 |
| 32 | Cristina Bucsa | Spain | 1,406 |
| 33 | Liudmila Samsonova | Russia | 1,405 |
If the injury isn’t as serious as it looked, Baptiste could yet achieve that goal in 2026.
The 24-year-old pulled out of doubles with Venus Williams after the injury, but has yet to release a statement providing any further information.
