“Remember my little sis name she finna be a problem 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿,” Frances Tiafoe wrote on X, talking about Hailey Baptiste back in 2019. Tiafoe and Baptiste’s friendship in tennis goes way back! They’ve known each other since childhood, growing up together in Washington, D.C. Both trained at the Junior Tennis Champions Center, fostering a close bond that has endured over the years. Baptiste considers Tiafoe a huge inspiration and Big Foe has frequently praised her as well, expressing pride in her achievements and predicting big things for her career. And it looks like his predictions are coming true!

Currently, both players are showcasing their skills at the Miami Open. Baptiste began her campaign against Olga Danilovic, winning in three sets: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, and making her way into the round of 64 to face Daria Kasatkina. The Russian was supposed to be a tough challenge, but as it turned out, the American wildcard delivered a stellar performance downing Kasatkina, ranked 12th in the world, with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Baptiste didn’t have a great start to the match, losing the first set, but once she went a break up in the second set, it proved to be an absolute breeze for the 23-year-old. She ensured she held her serve right through the set to drag the match into the decider, where she eventually emerged the victor.

Frances Tiafoe watched the whole match from his accomodation, as he later cheered Baptiste on through his Instagram story. “Lil sis hit the big naaasssttyyy 😂😂 big dub proud of you @haileybaptiste,” Big Foe wrote on Insta. Isn’t that adorable?

Tiafoe was last seen competing at Indian Wells, where he couldn’t advance further than the second round. His campaign ended after he was bested by Yosuke Watanuki, 6-4, 7-6(8). He’s scheduled to start his campaign at the Miami Open on March 22 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Will we see Baptiste cheer on her “big brother”? Only time will tell! However, she has previously spoken up about how he motivates her to do better!

Baptiste lauds Frances as a “huge inspiration” to her!

Last year, during the US Open, Frances Tiafoe made a remarkable run to the semifinals, where he faced off against Taylor Fritz in an all-American showdown. Big Foe’s journey ended with a five-set loss, but his friends were still proud of him, Baptiste in particular. She sent him a message, saying, “Tough one, good week.” Tiafoe’s response? “He didn’t say anything about the match. He just said, ‘You can do it too.'” Baptiste shared with WTA Insider later.

Baptiste’s admiration for Tiafoe runs deep. She further explained, “He’s always a huge inspiration to me and he’s like a brother to me. We went to school together when I was in fourth grade. I’d be with him all day and hang out with him every weekend, and we’re still close to this day. Same with his brother and his parents; they’re basically my family.”

This friendship is more than just a bond; it’s a source of motivation for Baptiste. Seeing Tiafoe’s success makes her believe in her own potential, as she noted, “To see that, of course, it’s possible because I’ve grown up with him and he’s right there.”

Hailey heads into the third round now to take on former World No.1 Naomi Osaka on Sunday, March 23. Are you backing her to make a deep run in the Miami Open? Share your thoughts in the comments below.