ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2025

Hailey Baptiste

Press Conference

H. BAPTISTE/N. Hibino

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win. How do you reflect on singles and doubles matches today?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, obviously the singles match I think was pretty clean. I played well. Felt good out there. So I'm happy to be going into round three.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Are you exhausted after a day like today, not just physically? That's a long time to be concentrating on a yellow ball.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, it's obviously long days. We do it in a lot of different tournaments, play singles and doubles.

It's fun at the end of the day. It doesn't feel like I'm here for 10 hours, even though I am (smiling).

Q. Sorry for asking this question. Your play style is quite unique, in a good way. You have a huge kick serve and dropshots, slices. How did you develop that kind of play style?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I grew up playing with boys pretty much my whole youth. My coaches kind of coached me to play a little bit more like a guy. So I think that's why. Obviously it helps me, I think. Girls don't love the kick serve and the slice.

Yeah, I just like to be creative on court.

Q. Did you have any idol?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Idol? I wouldn't say that I have, like, one person where I'm like, Okay, I want to play like them. Obviously looked up to Frances a lot, somebody that I grew up with, got to watch rise up. I think I have a lot of similarities to him.

Q. What do you think has been working for you in singles?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I think I've just been believing in myself. I've been consistent with just the way I've been approaching my matches. I've got a good team around me right now. They're instilling a lot of confidence in me, as well. I think that's been a big, big part.

Q. Is that confidence something you feel you didn't have enough of before?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I think that I had the confidence, but I was doubting myself sometimes in big moments. Kind of just said 'F it' with that, and backing myself now.

Q. When did you say 'F it'?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: When?

Q. Yes.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I guess last year I kind of had a moment. I split with a coach that I trusted a lot. I was, like, very down on myself at that time. I had this thing in my mind that the coach was kind of making me as a player, which is obviously not true. That was definitely a time where I was like, All right, I'm playing for myself. I was traveling a lot by myself with no coach.

I think definitely being out there on my own, not having a coach there, like, you're really playing for myself, that made a big difference for me.

Q. How long were you out there on your own? How did you move into the next phase with Eric and Franklin?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, on and off kind of I feel like the last two years. I mean, before this year, two and a half years I was a lot of the times traveling by myself. Just kind of thugging it, battling my way through matches. Lose a match, didn't really have anyone to talk to afterwards. Kind of my friends saying, Tough luck. Had to do the whole debrief process by myself.

You just learn things about yourself and about the game. Yeah, I think it gave me confidence and a new love for the game.

Q. Very nearly had all JTCC third round here. Thoughts on your next match against Bouzas?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Obviously great player. Tough battle against Robin today. Obviously would of loved to play her in the third round. But still great that we're both out here coming from JTCC.

But yeah, Jessie is a great player. I played her once before about two years. We had a battle, I think 7-6 in the third. Maybe four or five match points, ended up losing. Definitely looking to get my revenge.