Brave Baptiste Saves Match Points Conquers Krejcikova in Roland Garros Thriller
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, May 24, 2026
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
Labels don’t limit Hailey Baptiste.
That’s because Baptiste is too busy branding herself a big-match fighter.
A brave Baptiste saved two match points, toppling two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-7(7), 7-6(6), 6-2 in a pulsating two hour, 53-minute Roland Garros opener.
Baptiste blasted 10 aces, saved two of three break points and made a fierce stand in the second set tiebreaker.
The 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles champion Krejcikova was playing just her second clay tournament of the season after a left thigh injury sidelined her for weeks.
Former No. 2 Krejcikova held double match point at 6-4 in the second-set tiebreaker, but her forehand fluttered. Krejcikova sent a forehand long on her first match point then steered a forehand down the line wide on the second match point.
Riding her stinging serve, topspin forehand and flair for the big strike, Baptiste won four points in a row to force a final set then powered out to a 4-0 lead in the decider. Krejcikova started today’s opening day of play as one of former French Open women’s champion in the singles field. Now three former champions: reigning champion Coco Gauff, four-time champion Iga Swiatek and 2017 title holder Jelena Ostapenko remain.
It’s the second time in a month Baptiste saved multiple match points to fight off a multiple Grand Slam champion.
The 24-year-old Baptiste posted the biggest win of her career by upsetting world No. 1 and defending Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) to reach the Madrid Open semifinals last month.
Back against the wall today, Baptiste came back firing for her fourth trip to the Roland Garros second round in five appearances. Baptiste will play 148th-ranked Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu for a third-round spot.
Today, Baptiste banged back-to-back aces holding to level after six games.
Thirty-three minutes into this opener, Baptiste gained the first break point, but Krejickova saved it with a slick drop shot. Krejcikova eventually held for 5-4.
Madrid semifinalist Baptiste slid an ace down the T to force a first-set tiebreaker after 50 minutes of tense action played amid sweltering 88-degree heat.
Who would hold nerve and serve in the tiebreaker?
Ultimately, front-court frailty helped determine the breaker.
Leading 5-4, Krejcikova ran down a drop shot and was standing inside the service line when she slapped a backhand sitter into the top of the tape.
Baptiste hammered her fifth ace for set point at 6-5, but Krejcikova cracked a serve winner off the sideline erasing set point. Krejcikova hit her first ace for set point at 7-6, but barely missed a forehand approach long.
On the next point, Baptiste was in prime position for a relatively routine high forehand volley but botched it into the bottom of the net to face a second set point.
The Krejcikova two-hander is a versatile and impactful shot. Using her left hand, Krejcikova spun a short-angled backhand to drag the American off the court and coax the error. Krejcikova saved a set point snatching the dramatic 63-minute opening set and drawing applause from coach Jiri Novako, a man who owns an excellent two-hander himself.
Baptiste left the court for a clothing change after dropping the first set.
The 26th-seeded American squandered a 40-Love lead, suffered a concentration lapse and committed an error dropping serve to start the second set.
Contesting her eighth Roland Garros, Krejcikova ran off eight points in a row building a 7-6, 2-0 lead.
Elevating her energy and amping up the pace of her drives, Baptiste was driving her topspin forehand with ambition as she reeled off 12 of the next 14 points in a three-game surge to edge ahead 3-2.
Krejcikova was up Love-15 on the American’s serve in the 11th game and had nearly the entire court open for a forehand drive volley that would have given her a Love-30 lead. Instead, Krejcikova swept the shot long and Baptiste answered with a four-point run holding for 6-5.
Tension tightened in the 12th game as Krejickova’s forehand faltered twice in a row and Baptiste exploited it earning a set point. Krejcikova hit the wide serve and and a forehand winner to save it.
The 30-year-old Czech confronted a second set point attacking net and drawing an errant pass for deuce. Krejcikova held firm amid severe stress to force the tiebreaker.
One of the most versatile seeds in the draw, Baptiste is unique in that she can crank the high-bounding kick serve over an opponent’s head, play leaping topspin forehands that bound shoulder high or snake slithering slice backhands that hug the dirt. Baptiste’s ability to shift spins, speeds and heights is unsettling, but her shot selection can be mind-numbing at times.
Running around her backhand, Baptiste missed her favored forehand down the line handing the Czech double match point at 6-4 in the breaker.
On her first match point, Krejcikova sailed a forehand long, looking over at Coach Novak to confirm the call. On match point No. 2, Baptiste caught her toss before a second serve, then hit a let serve showing her nerve. Krejcikova had a good look at a forehand but sprayed it wide.
Credit Baptiste for booming a bold backhand down the line for a third set point.
The forehand failed Krejcikova again. This time she worked her way into net and was in position for a low forehand volley. Any volley in the court would have worked, but Krejcikova loves the drop volley and this time netted the forehand drop volley as Baptiste survived match points to force a decider.
Though Krejcikova left the court to clear cobwebs of regret, she came back to face a storm of heavy forehands. Baptiste broke at 30 to start the decider.
Taking her cracks on the forehand, Baptiste was playing proactive points and Krejcikova, limited by injuries to just nine matches this season, was physically flagging.
Bouncing on her toes, Baptiste burst out to a 4-0 lead. Krejcikova spun a second serve ace to stop the final-set shutout after two hours, 38 minutes.
A fierce Baptiste served out a two hour, 53-minute victory at love.
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