Sports
Baptiste Faces Hibino in Exciting French Open Showdown

PARIS, France — Hailey Baptiste will compete against Nao Hibino in the second round of the French Open Women’s Singles on Thursday. Baptiste, 23, made headlines last week after defeating 23rd seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in a thrilling three-set match, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Baptiste demonstrated impressive stamina and skill as she improved throughout her first-round match. Her ability to grow into games suggests she could pose a significant challenge moving forward.
Nao Hibino, on the other hand, has battled fiercely to reach this stage of the tournament. After successfully navigating through the qualifiers, Hibino defeated fellow Japanese player Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets, paving the way for this matchup.
While Hibino has shown determination, Baptiste’s fitness and strong first serve could be decisive factors in this encounter. Experts predict Baptiste’s recent performance against Haddad Maia provides her with the upper hand.
Betting odds reflect this anticipation, with Australian betting sites currently placing Baptiste at $1.20 to win, while Hibino stands at $4.50. Baptiste’s chance to win the first set is set at $1.30, opposed to Hibino’s odds at $3.50.
The match is slated to begin at 8:10 PM AEST. Predictions favor Baptiste winning, with many analysts believing she has an 80% chance of defeating Hibino.