MADRID.- The American Haley Baptista eliminated this Tuesday the number one in the world Aryna Sabalenka in it WTA 1000 Madridwinning 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in the quarterfinals of the Madrid tournament.
Baptiste, number 32 in the world, will face the Russian in the semifinals Mirra Andreevawho, in the morning, had beaten the Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
“It’s just been insisting, insisting, insisting,” said Baptiste about a hard-fought two-and-a-half-hour victory over Sabalenka, the reigning champion in Madrid.
The Belarusian aspired to achieve her fourth title on the clay of the Caja Mágica, after those she achieved in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
Sabalenka started by taking the first set, but the American reacted in the second set against a Belarusian player who gave up her serve three times, taking the match to the third set.
In the final round, the world number one wasted six match points to end up saying goodbye to the Madrid tournament.
“I think he played some very good points. I mean, I had some opportunities that I didn’t take advantage of and I think he played very brave tennis in those points,” Sabalenka considered after her elimination.
“I think I had my chances in the third set, but maybe I rushed too much,” lamented the Belarusian.
Foran seeks record on Everest
Every season, hundreds of mountaineers dream of reaching the summit in the Everestbut the Australian Oliver Foran27 years old, seeks another feat: reaching the top of the highest mountain on the planet from sea level in less than 67 days, the current record.
“I always wanted to climb Everest, but I wanted to do it in a different way,” Foran told AFP by phone, during a break in his long walk to Everest Base Camp, whose summit is at 8,849 meters.
This former real estate agent aspires to beat the current record of 67 days cycling the 1,150 kilometers that connect the Gulf of Bengalin the Indiawith the foothills of the Himalayasbefore embarking on the assault on Everest.
For this mountaineer, who lost his mother when he was a teenager due to brain cancer, this sporting challenge also aims to raise funds for the mental health of young people.
It is not his first climb in the Himalayas: in 2024 he climbed Island Peak (6,189 meters) and last year Ama Dablam (6,812 meters).
