Madrid Open delivers drama as Baptiste stuns Sabalenka, Ruud survives Tsitsipas scare
Hope
The Mutua Madrid Open produced a day of high drama on Tuesday, as Hailey Baptiste pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest shocks by saving six match points to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, while defending champion Casper Ruud also survived a tense battle against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In the women’s draw, American qualifier Baptiste fought from the brink of defeat to claim a memorable 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) victory over top seed Sabalenka, ending the Belarusian’s 15-match winning streak and title defence in the Spanish capital.
Sabalenka appeared in full control after taking the opening set and later earning six match points in the deciding set, but Baptiste refused to back down, repeatedly forcing her opponent to play extra shots under pressure. The 24-year-old showed remarkable composure in the final set tiebreak, sealing the win with a decisive forehand winner to complete a career-defining upset.
In the men’s draw, Casper Ruud was pushed to the limit before edging Stefanos Tsitsipas in another three-set thriller, winning 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) to continue his strong run in Madrid.
The defending champion struggled to convert break opportunities early on but stayed resilient in the decisive moments, saving two match points in the final set before taking control in the tiebreak. Tsitsipas, who had chances to close out the match, ultimately faltered under pressure as Ruud maintained his composure to secure victory.
The Norwegian extended his impressive record at the tournament and kept alive his title defence in a contest defined by fine margins and missed opportunities on both sides.
The results underline the unpredictable nature of this year’s Madrid Open, with top players being pushed to the edge as the tournament heads into its latter stages.
