Aryna Sabalenka’s Madrid Open title defence ends with shock defeat by Hailey Baptiste

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's Madrid Open title defence ended in a quarter-final upset on April 29, 2026, as 30th seed Hailey Baptiste defeated her 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(8-6) after saving six match points in the third set. The result ended Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak and marked only her second defeat of the season, the first being to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. Baptiste, who had lost to Sabalenka just weeks earlier in the Miami Open quarter-finals, credited tactical adjustments including serve-and-volley play for the victory.