After Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic and Wang Xiyu of China withdrew from the US Open three weeks before the start of the tournament, American Ann Li and Australian Priscilla Hon moved into the singles main draw to replace them. That couldn’t have been better news for American Hailey Baptiste, who became the immediate beneficiary and received the wild-card spot Li had been offered by the USTA.
Without a qualifying event this year, the 18-year-old Baptiste, from Washington, D.C., would not have been able to play the Open in singles unless she received that wild card. Currently ranked No. 234 in the WTA singles rankings, Baptiste won a round in last year’s Open qualifying tournament. In 2018, she made a run to the US Open Junior girls’ doubles final, where she and partner Dalayna Hewitt fell to Coco Gauff and Caty McNally.
Coached by Peter Lucassen at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., Baptiste won three ITF $25,000 Futures singles titles in 2019. But it was her first-ever WTA Tour-level win that provided the greatest tennis moment in her young career to date, as Baptiste upset former US Open singles finalist Madison Keys in the first round of last year’s Citi Open, her hometown tournament.
USOpen.org recently caught up with Baptiste, and found out how she kept busy over the recent tour shutdown, her win over Keys and her affinity for her pet dog, a half-Shar Pei, half-Pug named Tsonga, who will be joining her in New York.
Q: What was the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown like for you, and did if affect your tennis in any way?
Hailey Baptiste: It was pretty difficult the first couple of months. All the courts around my house were shut down and locked up, so I wasn’t able to practice for a bit. I just tried to get myself in the gym and do as much as I could without hitting and try and stay in shape the best way I could.
Q: What do you recall about getting the call that you had received a wild card into the US Open singles main draw?
HB: Kathy Rinaldi [USTA National Coach of Women’s Tennis] called me. I was on my way to practice, and she said Ann moved in and I was going to get a wild card. I was pretty excited. I was disappointed when I didn’t get in originally, but I knew there were a few Americans that could possibly move in on their own, so there was still a chance to get it.
Q: Why do you think you got the call?
HB: I think because I’m one of the younger Americans coming up. I’m training at the USTA down in Orlando, and they just want to give me the opportunity to see what I can do.
Q: Will you also put in for a US Open doubles wild card?
HB: Yes. I am playing doubles with Kim Clijsters at the Cincinnati tournament [the Western & Southern Open] in New York the week before. We played together over the summer in [World] TeamTennis, and we decided there that we would play together.
Q: What is it like playing with a Hall of Famer like Kim?
HB: She’s just one of the nicest players I’ve ever met. We hope to get a wild card in doubles at the Open, too. I hope so. [Baptiste and Clijsters did receive a wild card to compete in women's doubles.]
Q: When did you first realize that tennis was going to be a career for you?
HB: I never really thought it wasn’t going to be my career. It was never in my head to go to school. I’ve always wanted to be a professional tennis player.
Q: What do you remember about your win over Madison Keys in D.C. last summer?
HB: I was playing my first WTA match, so I was pretty nervous, especially in my hometown tournament. I have been around Madison a lot at USTA in Orlando and knew the way she played. I went out and played my game and came out on top.
Q: What do you like most about being a pro tennis player?
HB: Just being around all the great pros and the travel. Since I turned pro, I’ve improved a lot. It’s been really good playing at a high level. I just can’t wait till the tournaments start back up and I can go high up in the rankings.
Q: Who was your favorite tennis player growing up?
HB: Rafa [Nadal].
Q: What about on the women’s side?
HB: Serena [Williams]. And Venus [Williams]. I was watching when they just played each other [last week in Lexington, Ky.], and it was a crazy match. I remember meeting both of them when I was like 5 or 6 and still have pictures of both of them. I met them at a World TeamTennis match in DC, when they were playing for the Kastles and did a little clinic. I got to hit with Venus and play doubles with Serena.
Q: Have you thought about what playing at the US Open will be like with no fans?
HB: It’s going to be a lot different this year. The fans bring you that little extra boost of energy if you need it, or if you are playing someone from a different country, they are always pulling for you. The fans just give you that extra energy and boost of support.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
HB: Sleep, and watch Netflix. I’m just training all the time. Just listening to music and hanging out with friends and my dog.
Q: You’ve actually had some articles written about your dog. Did you realize he’s already a mini-celebrity?
HB: Yeah. Over the summer he was at my matches and interacting with other dogs, like Taylor’s [Townsend] dog, Winston. He’ll definitely be in New York with me.
