While the WTA No.1 Aryna Sabalenka battled fiercely, Hailey Baptiste did the wonder that most probably didn't see coming.

When the No. 30 marched in the Madrid Open’s quarterfinal on April 28, the Sunshine Double winner Sabalenka probably seemed more advantageous. But after turning the tables unexpectedly, Baptiste expressed what that moment was like.

“I can't get the words out. I feel very good,” admitted Baptiste after her victory over Sabalenka. “Just to believe in myself and do what I am best at. Playing my game and just doing what I do normally, any other day when I'm playing whoever, any other match, and just being true to myself.”

Saving six match points to secure a dramatic 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), Baptiste didn’t just win the round. She turned over Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline play and recovered the lost momentum with resilience.

Although the Belarusian broke Baptiste twice, her 15-game winning streak couldn’t survive. Baptiste returned the vengeance by breaking Sabalenka thrice, marking her first win against a top-five player and first appearance in a WTA 1000 semi-final.

Her goal was to make the No.1 “uncomfortable” and prevent her from gaining rhythm. And swallowing this unexpected defeat, Sabalenka also had some words about Baptiste.

Aryna Sabalenka on Hailey Baptiste After the Heartbreak

It wasn’t the first encounter between the two this year. But at the Miami Open, the results were different as Sabalenka defeated Baptiste 6-4, 6-4. And after the Madrid heartbreak, the WTA No.1 had some reflection.

“In Miami, I didn’t give her many chances; she couldn’t break my serve,” she said. “Here, in the first game of the second set, I made two double faults out of nowhere and felt that gave her confidence. From then on, she started playing more aggressively.”

While Sabalenka agreed that she “had some opportunities and didn’t take them”, she also admitted that Baptiste “played very brave tennis in those match-point moments”, which “made the difference. The Belarusian’s conclusion was a “well done.”

Moving forward, Baptiste will take on Mirra Andreeva for the final round.

So, with the newfound confidence after defeating Sabalenka, do you think she’ll be able to conquer Andreeva as well? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy