TENNIS: Sabalenka stunned by Baptiste in Madrid Open quarter-finals

MADRID — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) defeat to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open on Tuesday, as the American delivered the biggest win of her career after saving six match points to reach the semifinals for the first time.

The 24-year-old Baptiste, seeded 30th, earned her first victory over a top-five player and handed defending champion Sabalenka only her second loss of the season.

Baptiste will next face World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva, who advanced after defeating Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 7-6(1), 6-3 in their quarterfinal earlier on Tuesday.

“Incredible. Super proud of myself,” Baptiste said. “It was a super tight match, 7-6 in the third. I had to fight off match points. I’m really happy right now.

“It just shows me where my game lies. I’ve always believed it. Now I’m starting to put it into action, and the world is seeing it as well.”

Sabalenka’s defeat marks the latest upset at the WTA 1000 clay-court tournament, which has seen the top seven seeds eliminated.

Baptiste is projected to rise to a career-high ranking of at least No. 24 after also reaching the Miami Open quarterfinals last month, where she lost to Sabalenka.

-Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters