Hailey Baptiste stuns WTA Madrid crowd with Aryna Sabalenka masterclass

TL;DR

Hailey Baptiste defeated World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, saving six match points and handing Sabalenka her second loss of the 2026 season. This victory marks a significant upset for Baptiste, who previously lost to Sabalenka in their last meeting.

Key points

Hailey Baptiste saved six match points against Aryna Sabalenka
Baptiste handed Sabalenka her second loss of the 2026 season
This victory marks Baptiste's second career meeting with Sabalenka

Hailey BaptisteAryna Sabalenka

Tennis fans that did not know who Hailey Baptiste is now do.

Baptiste, the 24-year-old Washington, DC native, saved six match points against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and handed her just the second loss of her 2026 season. The previous loss was to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open.

Baptiste earned the win with her head, heart, and guts. Her body language was always positive. Even when things did not go her way, she keep plugging away and upset Sabalenka in just their second career meeting. Sabalenka beat her in straight sets in this year’s Miami Open quarterfinals.

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Baptiste becomes fifth American to beat Sabalenka in past two years

Baptiste is in good company. Sabalenka is practically impossible to beat yet four other American women have done it at big moments in the past 16 months. Madison Keys won the 2025 Australian Open. Coco Gauff won the 2025 French Open. Amanda Anisimova defeated Sabaelnka in the 2025 Wimbledon semifinal. Jessica Pegula defeated her in the 2025 Wuhan semifinals.

Keys, Gauff, Anisimova, and Pegula are Top 10 players. If Baptiste keeps up this 2026 level of play, she will soon join them there.

Baptiste outdid her American compatriots by saving six match points against Sabalenka. In the WTA live rankings, she is 24th. Baptiste was 88th last year at this time.

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Her work is not done

Baptiste will play Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals. Andreeva won their only previous meeting in straight sets at Wimbledon last year.

Q&A

How did Hailey Baptiste defeat Aryna Sabalenka?

Hailey Baptiste defeated Aryna Sabalenka by saving six match points and maintaining positive body language throughout the match.

What is the significance of Baptiste's win over Sabalenka?

Baptiste's win is significant as it marks only Sabalenka's second loss of the 2026 season and makes Baptiste the fifth American to beat her in the past two years.

What was the previous outcome of Baptiste's match against Sabalenka?

In their previous match at the Miami Open quarterfinals earlier this year, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Hailey Baptiste in straight sets.