Aryna Sabalenka is one win away from making history at the Australian Open. The world No. 1 powered past her best friend, Paula Badosa, 6-4, 6-2, in Thursday’s semifinal to secure a shot at her third consecutive title in Melbourne—a feat not achieved since Martina Hingis in 1999.
The match, dubbed the latest chapter in the “Sabadosa” friendship saga, unfolded on Rod Laver Arena, where Sabalenka’s aggressive game overwhelmed Badosa in 85 minutes. “We both wanted this so badly,” Sabalenka said post-match. “But no matter what happens, we’ll still be friends. I even promised Paula I’d take her shopping and pay for whatever she wants.”
The semifinal began with Badosa showing promise, saving an early break point and surging to a 2-0 lead. The Spaniard looked sharp, using her power to match Sabalenka shot for shot. However, a crucial turning point came when Badosa squandered four game points to consolidate her lead, allowing Sabalenka to break back and seize control.
Once Sabalenka found her rhythm, her powerful groundstrokes and sharp serving took over. She broke Badosa again at 3-2 and held her nerve to clinch the first set 6-4. In the second set, Badosa faltered under pressure, gifting Sabalenka an early break with back-to-back double faults. From there, the top seed never looked back.
Sabalenka’s relentless aggression, including 32 winners, proved too much for Badosa, who couldn’t keep pace. With a love hold to close out the match, Sabalenka sealed her spot in Saturday’s final, where she will face either Madison Keys or Iga Swiatek.
With the chance to etch her name in Australian Open history, Sabalenka remains laser-focused. “I’m ready for the challenge,” she said. The world will now watch to see if she can complete her Melbourne hat-trick and cement her legacy.
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