Frances Tiafoe’s playful praise of Hailey Baptiste after her run to the Miami Open 3rd round, “Lil sis hit the big naaasssstyyy 😂😂 Big dub proud of you @hailrybaptiste”, perfectly reflects their long-standing bond. The two grew up in Washington, training side by side at the Junior Tennis Champions Center, where their friendship blossomed. Tiafoe has often spoken proudly of Baptiste’s potential, calling her a star in the making, while Baptiste sees him as a guiding figure and a major source of inspiration. Now, with the 23-year-old WTA talent advancing to the R64 at the Madrid Open, she’s returned the love, opening up about her close relationship with Tiafoe and what it means to her.

Hailey Baptiste kicked off her Madrid Open campaign with a hard-fought win over Sorana Cîrstea in a thrilling 3-set battle. After cruising through the first set 6-2, the American was tested as the Romanian clawed back to take the second 7-5, forcing a deciding third. The final set saw both players trading blows in a tense contest that reached a 6-6 deadlock, heading into a tie-break. 

Baptiste held her nerve, sealing the match 7-6 (7-4) with five aces and an impressive 71% success rate on 1st-serve points. Following the victory, Baptiste took a moment to speak about her strong bond with ATP star Frances Tiafoe. Reflecting on their friendship, she praised Tiafoe’s support and influence on her journey.

During her post-match interview with “Tennis Channel”, Hailey Baptiste opened up about her close-knit bond with the Tiafoe family. When asked about the brothers Frances and Franklin Tiafoe cheering her on from the stands, Baptiste smiled and said “It’s my extended family we’ve been super close since we’re young kids so obviously amazing to have in the box and having my back rooting me on and it’s gives me a little bit more confidence in myself for sure,” 

Baptiste describes Tiafoe as a “brother,” reflecting the tight-knit connection they share. Hailey Baptiste gave a special shout-out to Franklin Tiafoe in a Tennis Channel interview last month when she defeated Aussie Olivia Gadecki, Frances’s twin brother, sharing, “He’s like my best friend, my brother, so he’s sometimes uses as a punching bag. But he definitely keeps my head level. And it’s great to have him here with me. Franklin always say that he’s the big brother, so that always annoys me because they are twins. But he always brags about that for some reason. But I love them both.”

Her affection for her “brother” Frances surpasses mere support, as she has publicly acknowledged his influence. 

Baptiste praises Frances as a “huge inspiration” to her in her journey

This isn’t the 1st time Hailey Baptiste has shared heartfelt words about Frances Tiafoe. During last year’s US Open, when Tiafoe made an impressive run to the semifinals before falling to Taylor Fritz in a grueling five-set all-American clash, Baptiste was among those who showed support. She sent him a simple message: “Tough one, good week.” But what stood out to her was his response. “He didn’t say anything about the match. He just said, ‘You can do it too,” Baptiste later revealed to WTA Insider, highlighting the uplifting nature of their bond.

Baptiste’s deep admiration for Tiafoe reflects a lifelong connection rooted in shared experiences and mutual respect. “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.”

Their friendship goes far beyond tennis, it’s a constant source of motivation. Baptiste draws strength from the 27-year-old’s journey, finding reassurance in their shared past. “To see that, of course, it’s possible because I’ve grown up with him and he’s right there,” she added.

Hailey Baptiste, who was riding high with a WTA ranking of 98 as of March 17, 2025, earned the 8th seed in the singles draw at the 2025 Puerto Vallarta Open, setting her up for a promising run. Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as Baptiste withdrew from the tournament just before her first-round match against Linda Fruhvirtová, leaving fans eagerly awaiting her next opportunity to shine on the court/.

As of now, Hailey Baptiste is eyeing a spot in the 3rd round of a WTA 1000 event for the third time, following standout performances at the 2023 Guadalajara and Wuhan Opens. As she gears up for her 1st-ever clash against her next opponent, Donna Vekić, the question looms: can she ride the momentum and support from Frances Tiafoe to break through to the R32?