Sabalenka Knocked Out in Madrid as Baptiste Saves SIX Match Points in Stunning Upset

Aryna Sabalenka's Madrid Open title defence came to a stunning end on Monday as American qualifier Hailey Baptiste saved six match points before prevailing 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 in an extraordinary quarterfinal clash. The world number two looked destined for victory when she served for the match at 5-4 in the decider, only for Baptiste to produce a series of inspired winners that rocked the Belarusian and changed the momentum entirely. Baptiste, ranked 89th in the world, showed remarkable composure throughout the three-hour and 47-minute epic, hitting 47 winners to Sabalenka's 31. 'I just kept believing in myself,' Baptiste said after the match. 'When you're down match points, there's nothing to lose. I went for my shots and they went in.' The 23-year-old from Florida will now face either Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in the semifinals as she seeks to build on the biggest victory of her career. Sabalenka, who won this tournament in 2023 and reached the final last year, cut a frustrated figure throughout, converting just five of 15 break point opportunities. The defeat ends Sabalenka's nine-match winning streak in Madrid and raises questions about her form ahead of the French Open, which begins in three weeks. 'I didn't play my best tennis today,' Sabalenka admitted. 'Credit to Hailey, she played incredible tennis when she needed to most.' Baptiste becomes the lowest-ranked player to defeat a top-two opponent on clay since 2021, and her giant-killing run continues a remarkable theme at this year's tournament with several seeded players already eliminated.