Aryna Sabalenka ’s defence of her Madrid Open title ended in a stunning defeat by American Hailey Baptiste in the quarter-finals.

Baptiste saved six match points in the third set to come through 2-6 6-2 7-6(8-6) in just over two and a half hours, becoming just the second player this season - after Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final - to down the world No 1.

It brought an end to a 15-match winning streak for the Belarusian, who had overcome Baptiste easily in their only previous meeting, 6-4 6-4 in the Miami Open quarter-finals last month.

Baptiste said: “I played her a few weeks ago and it was a close match. I had a better idea of how to play her and adjustments I needed to make.

“It was an uncomfortable situation for her, me serving and volleying, hitting a drop shot in one of the match points.…