Hailey Baptiste produced a stunning comeback to save six match points and defeat world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.
The 30th seed battled for over two and a half hours to win 2-6 6-2 7-6 (8-6), ending Sabalenka’s 15-match winning streak in the process. Baptiste struggled early as Sabalenka dominated the first set, but she responded strongly in the second, breaking serve multiple times to level the match.
In a dramatic deciding set, Baptiste showed remarkable resilience. She saved five match points while serving at 5-4 down, then later fended off a sixth in the tie-break before sealing victory with fearless attacking play.
The American credited her tactical adjustments and aggressive approach, including serving and volleying and using drop shots to disrupt Sabalenka’s rhythm. She now advances to her first WTA 1000 semi-final, where she will face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva.
Sabalenka admitted Baptiste’s bravery on the key points made the difference, praising her opponent’s ability to stay composed under extreme pressure.
