Baptiste’s variety drags Sabalenka out of comfort zone in Madrid shock

April 30, 2026 9:41 AM

Baptiste’s variety drags Sabalenka out of comfort zone in Madrid shock

Hailey Baptiste offered a glimpse of how Aryna Sabalenka can be unsettled on clay after mixing forays to the net with changes of pace to save six match points and prevail over the world number one in their Madrid Open quarter-final on Tuesday. Baptiste's 2-6 6-2 7-6(6) victory ended Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak, as the 24-year-old American's inventive tennis under extreme pressure, most notably her serve-and-volley approach, dragged her opponent out of her comfort zone. With the Fre...

Venus Williams makes winning return after 16-month layoff

July 22, 2025 1:27 PM

Venus Williams makes winning return after 16-month layoff

Venus Williams enjoyed a winning return to tennis after more than a year away from the game as the 45-year-old American teamed up with compatriot Hailey Baptiste to win their round of 16 women's doubles tie at the Washington Open on Monday. The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion had not played a competitive match in 16 months, with her last appearance on the WTA Tour coming at the Miami Open in March last year. Williams and Baptiste beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3 6-1 to re...