Paula Badosa shocked Coco Gauff at the Australian Open 2025, reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final. Remarkably, this comes just one year after Badosa feared she might have to retire from tennis.

Badosa's Struggles and Comeback

Previously ranked world number two, Badosa spent almost two years battling back issues, which caused her ranking to drop to 140th. However, after a strong finish to 2024, she made an impressive comeback, defeating Gauff with a 7-5, 6-4 win and ending Gauff's 13-match winning streak. Badosa was emotional about her victory. "I've been through a lot," she shared. Despite her past struggles, she feels that she has become a better player.

WTA Comeback Player of the Year

In 2024, Badosa was named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year. She had recovered from a spinal stress fracture that kept her out of two major tournaments in 2023. Her recovery led to her first title in over two years at the Washington Open, and she reached the US Open quarter-finals shortly after.

A Year of Uncertainty

Reflecting on her journey, Badosa admitted, "A year ago, I didn’t know if I could continue." Now, she is competing against the best in the world, and her semi-final spot is a "dream come true." Next, Badosa will face either Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi-finals.

Gauff's Strong Start

Coco Gauff entered the tournament as one of the most in-form players, having won the WTA Finals and all five of her singles matches at the season-opening United Cup. Before facing Badosa, she hadn’t dropped a set in eight matches.

Match Highlights

Badosa struck first, breaking Gauff’s serve for a 6-5 lead and clinching the first set. In the second set, both players exchanged breaks, but Gauff struggled, committing 25 unforced errors and six double faults. Eventually, Badosa served out the match and celebrated her win.

Gauff's Response

Gauff acknowledged Badosa’s strong performance. "Paula played great," she said. Despite the loss, Gauff remains optimistic about her progress. "I’m on an upward trajectory," she concluded.