Sabalenka loses six match points and falls to Baptiste in Madrid

World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka was surprisingly eliminated in the WTA by Madri after wasting six match points in the quarterfinals. The Belarusian fell to Hailey Baptiste 2/6, 6/2 and 7/6 (8-6), in a 2h32 match that marked the biggest victory of the North American’s career against a top 5 player in the rankings.

Baptiste pulled off a memorable comeback from behind, saving all of Sabalenka’s golden points in the third set and forcing a decisive tiebreak. The duel was balanced, but the American’s consistency in the tiebreaker sealed the result and opened the door to the semifinals of the Madrid tournament.

Sabalenka dominates the first set, but Baptiste reacts

Sabalenka started with confidence and controlled the first few games. The Belarusian won the first set 6/2 with two consecutive breaks of serve, showing the aggressive tennis that puts her at the top of the world rankings. Baptiste, in turn, appeared nervous and made unforced errors when trying to keep up with the pace set by her rival.

In the second set, however, the situation changed completely. Baptiste found his best level, started to compete better in rallies and achieved his own sequence of breaks. The North American returned the same score as the previous set: 6/2, taking the match to the third and decisive part with renewed hope.

The third set and the six lost match points

The third set was marked by a fierce dispute, with the two tennis players alternating advantages. Sabalenka had six opportunities to close the game and win, distributed throughout the partial. Contudo, in each of these chances, Baptiste found adequate answers or Sabalenka made mistakes under pressure.

The North American’s resilience was remarkable:

• Salvou all six match points without exception
• Manteve concentration even in the face of an adverse scenario
• Evitou mentally giving up after being so close to defeat
• Conquistou the tiebreak with precision and aggression

Sabalenka, despite the excellent first half of the set, was unable to convert his chances. Frustration increased with each lost point, and Baptiste took advantage of the psychological pressure to gain confidence in the tiebreaker.

Tiebreak decides and Baptiste advances

In the tiebreak, Baptiste maintained the consistency he demonstrated throughout the third set. The American turned the match around and won 8-6 in the tiebreaker, achieving a historic result in her career. Esta was her first victory against a player in the top 5 in the world rankings, a significant milestone in her professional career.

Leia Também

Seven smartwatches gain prominence with cost-benefit in May 2026

Marathon wins glowing review for Bungie’s level design and gunfights

Xbox glitch allows you to get Dragon Ball FighterZ permanently at no cost

The game ended after 2h32 with a lot of emotion and open opportunities. Sabalenka wasted a golden chance to maintain his undefeated campaign in the tournament and defend his position as world number 1. Baptiste, on the other hand, achieved one of the greatest achievements of his career and gained confidence for the next stages.

Próximas steps into Madri

With the victory, Hailey Baptiste advanced to the WTA semifinals of Madri, where they will face Russian Mirra Andreeva, number 9 in the world rankings. Andreeva also eliminated its opponent in the quarterfinals, confirming that the tournament continues with surprises and lower-ranked players making an impact in the final stages.

The match between Baptiste and Andreeva promises to be balanced, as both arrive on a high and ready to fight for a place in the final. Tennis fans are looking forward to a competitive duel that could decide who will have the honor of competing for the title against the winner on the other side of the bracket.

Sabalenka, in turn, will end his participation in Madri with the frustration of not being able to convert the six opportunities he had. The world number 1 will have time to process the elimination and prepare for the next commitments of the season. Sua’s streak of dominance on the circuit was interrupted by an American who showed a strong mentality and ability to reverse unfavorable scenarios on the court.

Women’s tennis continues to present exciting narratives, where ranking and position in the world do not always guarantee victory, and performances under pressure define the real winners.