MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 22, 2025

Hailey Baptiste

Press Conference

S. KENIN/H. Baptiste

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Hailey, why don't you get us started on some of your takeaways from the match. Obviously a tough one.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, really, really painful loss today. Just not at my best at all. Not feeling good out there. Had some chances in the second set, but I wasn't able to convert. So, I mean, just disappointed right now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I know it's really tough right now to probably talk about it, but what does that feel like when you just can't find it in the moment, like what is that process like? And how do you reset going forward? Because it doesn't stop. You are playing doubles and then more tournaments to come.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, it's extremely frustrating when things just aren't clicking on court. I was just kind of telling myself to battle through it and that I was going to find it, I was going to start feeling it.

I had moments where I started to feel much better, but it just wasn't enough in the end, and, I mean, it happens. Like, there is bad days, a lot of emotions here. But yeah, I have doubles still, and I have a few more tournaments before getting ready for US Open.

Nothing's going to change. I've got to keep working, get fitter, get better, and I'm still super motivated to do well and get ready for US Open and do good things there.

Q. Just being here at your home tournament, obviously I know not the result you wanted today, but just these last few days, having this experience and then continuing on in the doubles, doing it here in the DMV, just how cool is it for you right now?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Can you repeat the last part?

Q. Yeah, how cool is it for you? How much does it mean to you having these moments in your home area?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, it's super cool still, playing at home. I had a great year. Still getting a lot of love from the fans at home. Still got doubles coming up.

It's always going to be special and cool to play here no matter -- you know, the loss obviously sucks, but still having a great time being at home.

Q. Your coach, Eric Hechtman, also used to coach Venus Williams. Drawing from the experience of you playing with Venus the other night, turning the page, what is something you learned from Venus or specifically from Eric going forward that you can kind of learn from this moment and go into the US Open, as you said, to kind of take that piece of advice and get better and coach better? Is there anything specific that Eric has taught you that he learned from Venus or from Venus herself?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I would say kind of Eric told me a bit after the match, like, that maybe my mind focused on a few other things, being at home, you know, a lot of friends and family at home.

He kind of said that I wasn't out there just to beat the other person, which, I mean, obviously Venus and Serena, that's their thing. They're just out to kill every time they get on court.

Yeah, I think that I could have had that mindset a little bit more today, and I'd say that was the biggest takeaway.

Q. To that end, to have that emotional high of yesterday, obviously you wouldn't trade that experience, but to have to turn around again today to play singles, how difficult was that just getting up and getting ready for another intense match today?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, that's tennis. It happens often. You have a good win. There's a high. Then you have to turn around super fast to get ready for your next match.

So, I mean, that's not anything that I haven't experienced before. Obviously I'm at home, so it's a little bit different, like, I obviously wanted to really do well for D.C. and for myself. I just wanted to have a good week here at home. But it didn't happen this time, and I just gotta look past it and get back to work.

Q. One thing that was working well for you, you hit a lot of aces, nine in only two sets, which is a lot. Were you seeing things on where she was standing, returning, or on serve, what was the key for you hitting, getting a lot of free points and a lot of clean aces?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I think I served okay. I think I usually hit, like, a decent amount of aces. I have a good serve.

I'm not extremely happy with the way I served, because in the bigger moments, I didn't really do what I needed to do. She also returned really well, but yeah.

Q. I know you have priorities here this week, but a little off-topic, looking ahead, selected to be part of the Billie Jean King team, quarterfinals coming up and the finals, what does that mean for you? That's almost like another benchmark. I know you were with them for the qualifiers, but to be part of that group at this stage of your career, it's a nice feather in the cap I'm sure you appreciate?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I was super grateful to be picked. I got along really well with Lindsay and I had a great time in the qualifiers. It was super fun to be part of a team and represent my country. I'm really looking forward to going to China and competing there. Got great company with me, so it's an honor.