MADRID – American Hayley Baptiste saved six match factors to beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday on the Madrid Open for the largest win of her profession.
World No. 32 Baptiste received 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6), his first win towards a top-five opponent. This might be her first look within the WTA 1000 semi-finals.
The consequence ended Sabalenka’s profitable streak at 15, the defending champion in Madrid.
Batiste, 24, would be the first participant to take action since Iga Swiatek got here from lower than match level to defeat Sabalenka within the 2024 Madrid remaining.
“It was a troublesome match. She performed nice,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I performed nice. I assumed I had some possibilities within the third set. I felt like I rushed the purpose a bit bit there. However it’s okay, typically you must be taught. I will take what I did not like this week and transfer on.”
Baptiste will face No. 8 Mira Andreeva, who superior to her first semi-final in Madrid after defeating Leila Fernandez in straight units.
