Hailey Baptiste, seeded No. 30, produced a career-defining performance to eliminate world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) on Tuesday at the Mutua Madrid Open. Baptiste saved six match points in the third set to secure the upset and halt Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak.
The match unfolded in dramatic fashion, with Sabalenka controlling the opening set before Baptiste surged back to level the contest. In the decisive third set, Sabalenka served for victory at 5-4 but could not close out the match, allowing Baptiste to force a tiebreak. The No. 30 seed then held her nerve in the tiebreak to clinch one of the biggest wins of her career.
The victory marks Baptiste's first appearance in a WTA 1000 semi-final, a significant milestone for the American player. For tour followers, the result demonstrates the unpredictability of clay-court tennis and the vulnerability of even the tour's top-ranked players when facing determined challengers.
Baptiste will face her semi-final opponent in the coming rounds at Madrid.
Sources
- Tennis Majors: Baptiste saves six match points to stun Sabalenka and reach first WTA 1000 semi-final. Published 2026-04-28.
Reported from public sources.