Hailey Baptiste secured the biggest win of her career to date at the Madrid Open last month.
Baptiste, the 30th seed, saved six match points before beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 in just over two and a half hours.
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Jim Courier loved Baptiste’s vociferous reaction after the match, describing the American as having ‘so much heart.’
The result will live long in the memory; particularly for Baptiste, who was eventually knocked out in the semi-finals by Mirra Andreeva.
Baptiste has now reflected on her triumph in Madrid – noting what she told her coach just before the match.
Hailey Baptiste told her coach that she would win her first match point against Aryna Sabalenka
Baptiste, who was being interviewed on the Changeover Podcast, first reflected on her marathon contest with Belinda Bencic in the previous round.
The American spurned six match points during an astonishing 30-point second-set tiebreak, before eventually claiming a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 victory over the Swiss star.
The American world number 26 then went on to discuss her triumph against Sabalenka.
“Obviously I played Sabalenka shortly after that [beating Bencic], and I had another tiebreaker,” Baptiste began.
“And I literally said to Franklin [Tiafoe] and Will [Woodall – assistant coach] before the match, I was like, ‘the first match point that I get, I’m going to win it.’
“And yeah, I manifested it a bit and spoke it into existence and stuff but yeah that was my mentality and it came from playing that crazy tiebreaker and not wanting to be in that situation.
“And knowing that the way to get past that is just going after my shots and playing my game.
“And that’s exactly what I did, and it just gives me more confidence to know that when you do push through those moments and get past that stuff, that you get rewarded.”
Baptiste is not competing on the WTA Tour this week, instead setting her sights on the French Open, which will begin on May 24.
Baptiste reached the fourth round of last year’s event before losing to compatriot Madison Keys.
Hailey Baptiste discusses her friendship with Frances Tiafoe
Hailey Baptiste and Frances Tiafoe both hail from Washington and have been close friends for the best part of 16 years.
Therefore, Baptiste is well-placed to provide tennis fans with some insight into the character that is Frances Tiafoe.
During the Changeover Podcast, Baptiste was asked if Tiafoe had changed at all since becoming a famous name on the ATP Tour.
“I would say he’s the exact same and I think if you ask anybody else – any of his friends, family, everybody, they would say that he’s stayed the exact same as when we were kids,” Baptiste said.
“And that’s just something that I love so much about him and I admire about him.
“Because obviously, you see people step into fame or the spotlight, and they can become completely different people, and he’s definitely stayed true to himself and [he is] a very, very humble guy.”
How will Hailey Baptiste fare at the French Open?
Hailey Baptiste is currently ranked 26th on the WTA Tour.
As things currently stand – with a projected seeding of 26 – Baptiste is projected to exit Roland Garros at the third round stage.
However, after her recent performances in Madrid, it is difficult not to envisage the American reaching the second week in Paris.
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Baptiste has demonstrated that she is an excellent clay-court player: an individual who is capable of challenging the very best on the surface.
With many of the WTA’s highest-ranked players – including Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula – demonstrating mixed form, could Hailey Baptiste be the one to capitalise?