Aryna Sabalenka’s Madrid Open title defence ends with shock defeat by Hailey Baptiste

“Somebody else that I played before and lost to,” Baptiste said. “A little bit of a revenge tour, I guess. I’m looking to go out there and play my game again and get another win.”

Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak came to an end (Getty)

Sabalenka rolled through the first set easily but Baptiste fought back in the second, with back-to-back double faults from the Belarusian handing over a break in the opening game.

The American 30th seed was soon 4-0 up and although Sabalenka saved another break point and broke back, Baptiste was undaunted, firing down two forehand winners to break again and then take the match to a decider.

The third set was similarly topsy-turvy, with the top seed breaking for 5-4 - but Baptiste saved five match points in one service mammoth game, with an ace, serve and volley and drop shot lob all getting her out of trouble.

She ultimately broke the Belarusian for a third time in the set, only for Sabalenka to force a tie-break. She held a sixth match point at 6-5 in the tiebreak but Baptiste won three straight points to complete the biggest shock of the tournament so far and book a place in the Madrid last four for the first time.

Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference: “I feel like in Miami I didn't give her many opportunities. She couldn't break my serve. Here, the first game, second set, I just double-faulted twice out of nowhere. It felt like that gave her belief. After that, she just started playing more aggressively. She was playing brave tennis. What can I say? Well done.”