Naomi Osaka stages another Miami comeback, edges past Hailey Baptiste in thrilling three-setter

Naomi Osaka survived a tough battle against local wildcard Hailey Baptiste, who came through qualifying, and staged another comeback at the Miami Open, clinching a hard-fought victory 7-6[8-6], 3-6, 6-4.

The former World No. 1 found herself 4-2 down in the deciding set but showed her champion mentality to turn things around against a remarkable performance from Baptiste, who came close to pulling off an upset. Osaka's next challenge will be sixth seed Jasmine Paolini.

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Osaka edges tense tiebreak to claim opening set

The opening set was a tight affair, with Osaka (No. 61) having to save a break point right at the start to avoid falling behind early. Baptiste (No. 98) held her serve comfortably, while Osaka struggled slightly to maintain hers. Nevertheless, the four-time Grand Slam champion won 65% of points on her serve compared to Baptiste’s 68%.

At 4-3 in Osaka’s favour, she finally put Baptiste under pressure but squandered a break point, keeping things level. The American stunned Osaka by breaking to go up 6-5, earning the chance to serve for the set. However, the pressure mounted, and Osaka broke back to force a tiebreak.

In the decisive moments, both players dropped serve twice, reaching 2-2. Baptiste took a 6-5 lead, earning a set point, but couldn’t convert. Osaka then claimed three consecutive points to seal the set 7-6[8-6].

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Baptiste bounces back, dominates second set

Osaka rode her momentum into the second set, breaking Baptiste early to lead 2-0 — a harsh scoreline for the American, who was playing an impressive match. Baptiste’s persistence paid off as she broke back to level at 2-2, regaining control. The surprise grew when she secured a second consecutive break, surging ahead 4-2 after winning four straight games.

The match became a rollercoaster when Osaka broke back and had the chance to serve to level the score. However, Baptiste’s efficiency against Osaka’s second serve earned her a third break in the set. The American then held serve without faltering, closing out the set 6-3.

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Osaka stages comeback to clinch final set and Miami victory

The deciding set was once again up for grabs. Both players held serve early, staying level until 2-2, when Baptiste broke to take the lead. The World No. 98 extended her advantage to 4-2, but Osaka wasn’t done fighting.

The Japanese star stepped up in the crucial moments, breaking back to level at 4-4. Her experience shone through as she edged ahead 5-4, forcing Baptiste to serve to stay in the match. Osaka capitalised on her second match point, sealing the victory 7-6[8-6], 3-6, 6-4.

In the fourth round, she’ll face sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, who advanced after Ons Jabeur retired mid-match (4-3, ret.). Osaka also secures a five-spot rise in the rankings, climbing to World No. 56.

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