Frances Tiafoe Shows His Support to “Lil Sis” Hailey Baptiste at the Miami Open

Frances Tiafoe and Hailey 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 like a brother, often drawing motivation from his success. Tiafoe has frequently praised Baptiste, expressing pride in her achievements and predicting big things for her career. He once tweeted in 2019, “Remember my little sis name she finna be a problem ” Looks like his prediction is coming true!

Currently, both players are taking charge at the Miami Open. Hailey Baptiste is making strides on the WTA side. She began her campaign against Olga Danilovic, winning in three sets: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1. This victory propelled her into the round of 64 against Daria Kasatkina. Facing the Russian was a breeze for the American wildcard as she delivered a stellar performance on Friday. She triumphed over Kasatkina, ranked 12th in the world, with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

The encounter between Baptiste and Kasatkina showcased Baptiste’s resilience. After losing the first set, she turned the match around by breaking Kasatkina’s serve and holding her own. The second set ended with a competitive score, paving the way for Baptiste’s decisive triumph in the third set. Frances Tiafoe caught the whole thing from his accommodation, cheering her on in an Instagram story. He wrote, “Lil sis hit the big naaasssttyyy big dub proud of you @haileybaptiste” 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). Now, he’s scheduled to compete 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 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. Tiafoe’s journey ended with a five-set loss, but the support from his friends didn’t. Hailey Baptiste, a childhood friend and fellow tennis star, sent him a heartfelt message after the match. She recalled, “Tough one, good week. He didn’t say anything about the match. He just said, ‘You can do it too.'” Baptiste shared with WTA Insider.

Baptiste’s admiration for Tiafoe runs deep, as 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.”

Now as Hailey heads into her third round to take on former World No.1 Naomi Osaka on Sunday, March 23 and Frances takes on his first opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on March 22. Will these childhood friends make it far in the tournament with the support they have for each other? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Frances Tiafoe Shows His Support to “Lil Sis” Hailey Baptiste at the Miami Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.