Haley Baptist Excited for Venus Williams in US Open Doubles

Haley Baptist called Venus Williams’ first-round performance in the US Open “incredibly exciting,” expressing eagerness for the tennis legend’s upcoming matches in the women’s doubles event that starts later this week.

It was announced on Tuesday that Williams, aged 45, will be granted a wildcard entry along with Leila Fernandez, allowing for a longer presence for America at the Grand Slam tournament.

Baptist, who triumphed over Katerina Sr. Kova with a score of 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday, reminisced about their time playing together at the DC Open last month, where they also secured a victory with similar scores. She reflects fondly on that experience.

“It was an incredible experience for me,” Baptist shared in a post-match interview. “Playing together was so much fun. The crowd was amazing at our home tournament, and that’s definitely something I’ll always remember.”

As the 23-year-old emerging tennis star watched Williams compete in the US Open Doubles event, she anticipated a match as thrilling as her singles debut.

“It’s exciting to see her,” Baptist remarked. “I’m glad she played well. I really hope she does great in the doubles.”

Williams received a warm reception from the New York audience on Monday night despite losing to No. 11 seed Karolina Mciba. Baptist pointed to this as a testament to Williams’ enduring legacy.

“I think she’s going to surprise a lot of people,” Baptist added confidently.

Baptist will soon have her turn to make an impression when she faces the 2018 and 2020 US Open Champion on Thursday.

This season has marked notable growth for Baptist, especially after reaching the fourth round at the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon. Her recent achievements have also led to her best singles ranking yet, sitting at 47th.

Baptist previously faced Naomi Osaka this year in the quarterfinals at Auckland and again at the Miami Open. While Osaka emerged victorious both times, Baptist is looking forward to her next opportunity.

“We had a wild match in Miami, so I’m really excited for this one. The crowd will be cheering for me. Even though she’s a former champion, I’m American,” she said with a hint of determination.

Playing alongside a tennis great like Williams in Washington, DC, last month left a lasting impression on Baptist. When asked about her biggest takeaway from that experience, she was quick to respond.

“You can’t listen to all the outside noise; everyone has their opinions,” she explained. “At the end of the day, it’s about what you think and what you believe in.”