Frances Tiafoe and Hailey Baptiste Shine at Miami Open

Two tennis players from the same Maryland training center make deep runs at the prestigious tournament

Mar. 24, 2026 at 9:14am

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Frances Tiafoe and Hailey Baptiste, two American tennis players who grew up training together at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, have both made impressive runs at the 2026 Miami Open. Tiafoe, 28, survived a grueling three-set match against defending champion Jakub Menšík, while the 24-year-old Baptiste reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal with a straight-sets win over former Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko. The two players, who now train in Florida, have a close bond and often follow each other's matches closely, with Baptiste admitting she was "literally getting nauseous" watching the end of Tiafoe's match.

Why it matters

Tiafoe and Baptiste's success at the Miami Open showcases the strength of the Junior Tennis Champions Center program in producing top American talent. Their deep runs also highlight the ups and downs of professional tennis careers, with both players having faced struggles to maintain consistency and motivation at times. The performance of the two players is a positive sign for the future of American tennis.

The details

Tiafoe, ranked 14th in the world, saved three match points before defeating the 20-year-old Czech player Menšík 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(11) in a grueling three-set match. Baptiste, ranked 32nd, reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ostapenko. Both players have trained at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, and now call Florida their training base and second home.

  • Tiafoe's match against Menšík went to a deciding tiebreaker on March 24, 2026.
  • Baptiste made her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal on March 24, 2026.

The players

Frances Tiafoe

A 28-year-old American tennis player who is ranked 14th in the world. He grew up training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Hailey Baptiste

A 24-year-old American tennis player who is ranked 32nd in the world. She grew up training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland and now trains in Orlando, Florida.

Jakub Menšík

A 20-year-old Czech tennis player who is the defending champion at the Miami Open.

Jelena Ostapenko

A former Grand Slam champion and one of the biggest hitters on the women's tennis tour.

William Woodall

Hailey Baptiste's current coach, who is also a product of the Junior Tennis Champions Center.

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What they’re saying

“I was literally getting nauseous because it was so close.”

— Hailey Baptiste

“I would have lost for sure six months ago, especially where I was at the end of last year. This is big. It's big for a lot of reasons.”

— Frances Tiafoe

“We've known each other since we were young kids, maybe like 5 and 6 years old, so that brings a lot to his coaching game. He's been able to work on my mindset a lot, which I think has made the biggest difference.”

— Hailey Baptiste

What’s next

Tiafoe will face Térence Atmane, a tricky left-hander from France, in the next round. Baptiste will take on world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending Miami Open champion, in the quarterfinals.

The takeaway

Tiafoe and Baptiste's success at the Miami Open demonstrates the strength of the Junior Tennis Champions Center program in developing top American tennis talent. Their deep tournament runs also highlight the resilience and determination required to sustain a professional tennis career, as both players have faced their own struggles with motivation and consistency in the past.