ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2026

Hailey Baptiste

Press Conference

H. BAPTISTE/B. Krejcikova

6-7, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Hailey, another tough match for you, but how did you turn that around?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, it was a very close first two sets, 7-6, 6-7, and I had set points in both sets that I wasn't able to convert, but I just stayed tough. Saved a couple of match points in the second, and somehow got over the finish line.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats. Felt like to me, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but it changed maybe at 2-0 down in the second set. You had a chat with him. Nothing neutral, heavy kick. You seemed to focus after that point. I wonder if you can verify that and just how were you and when do you think you kind of changed the tone of the match?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I would say that was definitely a little bit of a turning point. I think my energy dropped after I got broken in that first game.

Yeah, I mean, I knew I had to pick it up somewhere. So, yeah, I definitely needed to raise my energy and intensity. And I think, like, my mentality, I just needed to be a bit more aggressive, and that's really what I started focusing on pretty much until the last point, so...

Q. Hailey, nice win. What's the decision-making process for you when you have as many shots in your arsenal as you do? How much do you have to work on -- it seemed like your decision-making was very on today and would kind of lapse in focus, and then come back really strong. How do you work on that, I guess?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely something that I've struggled with throughout my career. I think that in the end I just tried to make a solid decision. Sometimes I can't help myself but do something that's so stupid it's unbelievable.

But, yeah, I mean, I guess it's more just reaction and, yeah, hope that I make a smart decision (laughing).

Q. Is there any way to improve on that other than experience and reps and doing it over again?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I think focus falls into play with that, just, you know, being really dialed and knowing what the right decision is. Sometimes, like, the crazy decision isn't the worst decision. I think that's a part of my game and what makes me difficult to play, just kind of doing some things that aren't expected.

But definitely have to be focused and, you know, can't do that all the time.

Q. What do you think is going through your opponent's head when they're trying to close out a match against you, and what goes through your head when you are trying to close out a match? Are those points different?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I think that everybody kind of has the same thoughts -- I mean, similar thoughts closing out a match. There's nerves, for sure. You know, there's certain ways to approach it.

Some people maybe don't go for their shots. Another, okay, I just need to make balls. Me, I try to go after my shots and, you know, try to create something to get to the net or hit a winner somehow.

But, I mean, I guess it depends on your game style and your on-court personality, though I can't really tell you what she's thinking or other people.

Q. Do you ever have a sense of, like, you can pick up on something?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I can follow on, like, you know, what they've been doing in the match and big points and hope that they're maybe going to do that. And I can guess right a couple of times.

I always have in the back of my head that, yeah, there are going to be a little bit of nerves on their side, so definitely want to just make them play no matter what in those moments if I'm down match points.

Then sometimes you play somebody where you can't, you know, just make balls and you know you have to go after your shots, so I think it just depends on who you are playing.

Q. Just wondering what the expectations are for doubles and how that came about playing with Venus?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I'm super excited to play with her. I think we can do really well. She's obviously an incredible player, and we've played doubles once before. She's unbelievable at the net and super solid from the back, great serve, great return.

So I think that we can do well, and I'm excited.

Q. Hailey, just off of Ava's question, in terms of self-expression and playing your game the way that is innate to you, that you choose to play it, that you want to play it, I'm sure in the past and coming up through development, coaches have probably tried to maybe rein that in. Maybe on your side you wanted to rein it in. As of now, how do you conceptualize what you are trying to do out there and how you want to play your tennis?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm old enough and experienced enough to know how I should play and know what's right when I'm on the court. I really think I should just trust my gut whenever I'm on the court.

There's going to be times where obviously your coach is going to tell you to do something different. I mean, there's times where you listen, and there's times where you are, like, okay, no, I know that I should do this instead because that's the way you feel.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've learned a lot about myself over the last few years and my game. It all boils down to just trusting my mind and what I've done in the past.

Q. I saw the clip from you on The Changeover Podcast show and all the suitcases you've acquired on this trip and how much clothing you've gotten. I'm curious if you have any favorite things you've gotten there and in any of those suitcases, and how you would sort of describe your personal style, because it seems to be at least a lot of quantity of stuff that you've picked up on this trip?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah. I've got a pretty packed room, but I think, yeah, I shop a lot. I would say the favorite thing that I got, I got a new bracelet and a new necklace. Those are probably my two favorite things.

And a bunch of clothes. Some of them I don't even remember buying, so it's like a surprise when I open up some of the suitcases. Like, oh, I do remember getting this.

Yeah, I have an addiction, so...

Q. How much do you think you're going to pay to get all that stuff home?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Well, I really get status on United, so I get three free bags up to 70 pounds for me, plus everybody who is travelling to me. So if anybody wants to go back to D.C. after this, I could use... (laughing).

Q. I'm impressed about how many unbelievable shots you take in important moments and the difference between last year and before. It's a change of your mind that you are also enjoying a little bit more. Like I see on court, if you miss a ball in the important moment, you smile sometimes and then maybe make an ace. What has changed in this year in your mind?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah, I just refuse to, you know, let myself be the reason that I lose a match and really focusing on being mentally strong and very positive even in the, like, the very tight, close moments.

Like, I think it was the first set I missed a short, easy volley in the net to go up set point. Yeah, I mean, in my head I would love to break a racquet and scream, but I know that's not going to help me.

Me maybe laughing it off or just being super positive immediately after, it's made a huge difference for me. I'm able to kind of just forget about it right away.

Q. Can you tell me a little bit about the difference in the conditions that the type of heat we experienced today make for you? Do you actually like it? It seems like it would work well with your game -- heavy top, a lot of bounce, a lot of speed through the court.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: I definitely like the heat. My ball is going through the court a lot quicker, and the kick serve and heavy forehand is jumping a lot higher. So I'm not complaining.

It was difficult physically playing a three-hour match in that heat, but I think that it was also a part of the reason why I won the match, so...

Q. I will definitely take a suitcase back to D.C.

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Okay, I'll let you know.

Q. I had read that you got a full sponsorship deal with Nike. What does that mean for you and can you explain the difference between an in-kind deal and what the full sponsorship, as a clothes horse, what you're going to get now?

HAILEY BAPTISTE: Well, I actually didn't have any kind of deal with them before. I was just, like, buying clothes. When Frances was with Nike, I would use his account to get some clothes.

But, yeah, I mean, it's just a brand that I really love and I've always worn since I was younger. It's just what I was comfortable in.

Yeah, being with them officially now is very special to me, and it's something -- it was a big goal of mine this year that I worked for it, and I earned it. So I'm really happy about it.