Coco Gauff left overwhelmed by Hailey Baptiste father’s ultimate "dad move" during Wang Xinyu clash at French Open 2026

Defending champion Coco Gauff recently opened up after fellow American Hailey Baptiste suffered a serious injury during her second-round match at the French Open 2026. Baptiste was playing against Wang Xinyu when the unfortunate moment happened late in the first set. The 24-year-old lost balance while chasing a shot and landed awkwardly on her left leg, immediately collapsing to the clay in visible pain.

The scary scene shocked players and fans at Roland Garros. Baptiste screamed while clutching her knee as her father, Qasim, rushed from the stands to help her. She eventually left the court in a wheelchair. Later, reports confirmed that Baptiste tore her ACL and also damaged the meniscus in her left knee. Speaking after her own win, Gauff admitted the emotional moment deeply affected her and reminded her of the close relationship she shares with her father.

Coco Gauff praises Hailey Baptiste’s fighting spirit after devastating injury

CoconGauff said it was heartbreaking to witness Hailey Baptiste’s injury, especially seeing her father run onto the court in panic. The American star explained that the scene reminded her of her own father and how he would react in a similar situation. She added that Baptiste has always treated people kindly no matter her ranking or career situation. Which is something she truly respects.

The reigning French Open champion also praised Baptiste for overcoming challenges throughout her tennis journey. Gauff described her as someone who has spent much of her career proving doubters wrong. She has done that through hard work and determination.

Gauff revealed that she contacted Baptiste shortly after the incident. She offered support and encouragement. While she admitted she did not know the full extent of the injury at the time, she expressed confidence that Baptiste’s resilience would help her recover strongly. Gauff added that injuries like this are painful to witness in any sport and wished her fellow American a successful recovery.

Meanwhile, Gauff continues her title defense at Roland Garros. The American recently defeated Mayar Sherif in straight sets and is now set to face Anastasia Potapova in the next round. Ahead of the tournament, Gauff also referenced Rafael Nadal while discussing her mindset, saying she believes every tournament is a fresh start and prefers focusing on one match at a time instead of the pressure of defending her title.




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