Hailey Baptiste sees game rise to best levels after controlling temper: "I’ve come to the point where I have to let my anger out sometimes"

Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 04:30

Hailey Baptiste underlined both her shot-making quality and growing mental resilience as she battled into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open, defeating Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 in a rollercoaster encounter.

While her level from the baseline impressed, it was her ability to recover from a dramatic second-set tiebreak that stood out most.

“I mean, the tiebreak definitely took years off my life for sure,” Baptiste admitted with a smile. “But I knew if I wanted to win that match, I was going to have to shake that off really fast. I couldn’t sit in that feeling for long. I just had to have a short-term memory and get on with it.”

That ability to reset quickly has not come overnight. Baptiste revealed it is the result of years spent working on her emotional control during matches.

“It’s been years of practising and testing different methods, and I’ve come to the point where I have to let my anger out sometimes,” she explained. “But then I have to get right back to it and reset immediately for the next point.

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“I wasn’t able to get out of that second set, but I was able to regroup for the third and turn things around. I’m very proud of myself for that.”

Facing an opponent in Bencic who thrives on taking the ball early and disrupting rhythm, Baptiste had to make key adjustments to maintain control of rallies.

“I think the timing of the way she plays is definitely a little different and a bit tricky,” she said. “But I just tried to focus on myself and look at the ball—how it was coming—rather than what she was doing.

“And just be as aggressive as I could. It was working pretty well, and she obviously played a very good second set as well. But overall, I think the game plan worked well.”

The result marks Baptiste’s first clay-court quarter-final at WTA 1000 level, though the American is no stranger to success on the surface.

“Clay has always been my favourite surface,” she said. “I had some pretty good results on it last year, so I’ve carried a good amount of confidence into this clay swing, especially after some good results on hard courts.

“I don’t know if I’m learning new things, but I’m definitely putting things into action.”

Hailey Baptiste through to face Aryna Sabalenka.

Baptiste awaits Sabalenka

Despite the significance of reaching the last eight at such a major event, Baptiste is determined to keep her focus narrow.

“I think it’s about taking one match at a time,” she said. “Obviously, you’re getting closer and closer to a final or a title, but each match is another hurdle you have to get over. So it’s going to be the same approach as today and the same as it was two days ago.”

Next up is the ultimate test: a quarter-final clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Baptiste, however, is embracing the challenge.

“I had the privilege of playing her in Miami, so I’ve got that under my belt and kind of know what to expect a bit more, which gives me some comfort,” she said. “I’m super excited. I’m going to go out there, give my best, play my game and try to come out with a win.”

For Baptiste, the mindset remains simple as she prepares for the biggest stage of her week.

“Yeah, 100%,” she said when asked about continuing to swing freely. “That’s the plan. I’m just going to try and execute every day.”

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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