Sabalenka sweeps past Badosa to reach third straight Australian Open final
Her performances in Melbourne have ensured her return to the top 10 for the first time since October 2022.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside her close friendship with Paula Badosa on 23 January to secure her place in a third consecutive Australian Open final.
The world number one defeated the Spaniard 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena and now awaits either Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in Saturday's title clash.
Melbourne Park's hard, fast courts have been Sabalenka's fortress, and this latest victory extends her remarkable Australian Open winning streak to 20 matches. The 26-year-old is now just one win away from becoming the first woman this century to clinch three successive Australian Open titles.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The last player to achieve the feat was Martina Hingis in 1999, joining a prestigious list that includes Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles.
"That was a super tough match against a friend," Sabalenka admitted after her win. "I'm super happy to be through."
Despite describing Badosa last year as her "best friend" and "soulmate," Sabalenka showed no mercy in their semi-final meeting.
Badosa, seeded 11th, reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final after stunning world number three Coco Gauff in straight sets. The 27-year-old started the match strongly, breaking Sabalenka in the opening set to take a 2-0 lead after some powerful winners.
However, her momentum faltered as Sabalenka rallied, finding her rhythm and reeling off three consecutive games to go 4-2 up.
With the roof closed due to rain, Sabalenka remained unfazed, wrapping up the first set in 53 minutes with a dominant ace. She hit 19 winners compared to Badosa's six, leaving little room for the Spaniard to fight back.
The second set saw moments of light-heartedness when Badosa slipped and fell early on, prompting laughter from both players.
But Sabalenka quickly refocused, breaking Badosa's serve twice to seal the victory with her trademark power from the baseline.
Sabalenka's win ensures she remains in contention to hold onto the world number one ranking.
Should she face Swiatek in the final, the top ranking will be on the line, with the victor set to depart Melbourne as the world's best.
For Badosa, her run to the semi-finals marks a significant resurgence. A former world number two, she endured a challenging period after a back injury in 2023 that nearly forced her to retire.
Her performances in Melbourne have ensured her return to the top 10 for the first time since October 2022.
