Transcript: Hailey Baptiste def. Olivia Gadecki, 6-2, 6-4
Hailey Baptiste def. Olivia Gadecki, 6-2, 6-4
Round of 64
MODERATOR: Hailey, congratulations on the win today. Can you share your thoughts on the match?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah. First match on clay. So that was super exciting. It’s my favorite surface, and I’ve been really excited to get back on it. Played a pretty clean match. A little tough in the second set, but I was able to pull it out.
MODERATOR: We’ll take questions.
Congratulations. This tournament is using the electronic line calling. What are your thoughts about it, having played your first match on clay? Did you notice a difference or did you even think about it?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, yeah, I didn’t really think about it, because I asked a question yesterday in my doubles match, if we saw a mark and you can see the ball is out with the mark, but the electric line calling calls it in, like, what do we go by? And they go, with the machine. And I couldn’t understand that at first, but then she was like, oh, like where the dust could move from it. So that was my only concern. But, yeah, I didn’t really notice it. We’ve been playing with it pretty much every tournament now. So I’m used to it.
I know you get asked a lot about American tennis and where it is at the moment. It’s a pretty good time. I just wonder what you think of that and where do you fit in with that group?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, there’s obviously on the women’s side so many of us inside the Top 100 as well, and so it’s obviously very motivating. I think we’re all pushing each other. Maddie just won the Australian Open, which is huge, and I think that we have got a really good, strong group, and I’m playing another fellow American tomorrow. So that’ll be exciting. It’s really good for American tennis.
I noticed during the match you implemented the drop shot, both on the forehand and backhand side. What are your thoughts on the drop shot here?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah. I think on clay the drop shot works really well. The ball doesn’t bounce up as much, and I like to use a lot of variety in my game. So it’s something that I enjoy doing.
How did you decide to pick him up as a coach?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: He’s kind of always been somebody that’s helped me throughout my career, and I didn’t have anybody at the end of last year, and he had already been with me and kind of went to a few tournaments with me. And so it was a no-brainer, and now I’ve got a solid team with him and Eric Hechtman, and having a lot of fun together on the road. So I think I’m very happy with my team right now.
How would you describe the way he coaches?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: He helps me a lot with my mental game, and he’s able to see small things that maybe some other coaches don’t see, because he’s known me and my game for so long, and so that’s really helpful.
Just wanted to follow up on the U.S. women. Just wondering what kind of contact you have with Jess and Madison and Coco and those girls, what kind of daily contact do you have with them? Do they give you any advice?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: Daily contact, I mean, I wouldn’t say any daily contact, but we see each other every week. So we talk here and there.
You’ve made pretty steady progress up the rankings the last six months or so, it seems like. How pleased are you with that and what are your sort of goals for the next six months or so? What do you think it’ll take to sustain that kind of trajectory?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: Yeah. I think that just continuing to believe in myself and cleaning up little things here and there on the practice court. But just keeping the confidence that I have. I know that I’m doing a lot better now, and I know why I’m doing a lot better. So continuing to do those things and believe in myself.
Why are you doing a lot better?
HAILEY BAPTISTE: I mean, I’ve got a good, solid team. I didn’t have that for a while. And I’m able to work on things, my weaknesses and my strengths and sharpen my tools. And so obviously it’s going to make a big difference.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks everyone.
End of Interview
