American tennis player Hailey Baptiste caused a major upset by defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open. Baptiste, 24, fought back from a set down, saving six match points to secure a thrilling 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) victory in a match lasting two hours and 30 minutes.
This victory marked the biggest win of Baptiste’s career and ended Sabalenka’s impressive 15-match winning streak on the tour. Baptiste, who had never beaten a Top 5 opponent before this tournament, has now advanced to her first WTA 1000 semifinal after back-to-back wins over top-tier players in Madrid.
Sabalenka initially dominated the match, comfortably winning the opening set with a strong display. However, Baptiste turned the tide in the second set with aggressive play, breaking Sabalenka early and maintaining her advantage to level the match. The decider was a tense affair, with Baptiste showing remarkable composure to save match points and secure the victory in a tiebreak.
Baptiste’s next challenge in the semifinals will be against ninth seed Mirra Andreeva, who progressed with a straight-sets win. For Sabalenka, this defeat marks a rare setback in an otherwise dominant season, missing out on a spot in the final four despite her impressive winning streak.
