Aryna Sabalenka overcame her close friendship with Paula Badosa to reach her third consecutive Australian Open final on Thursday. The world number one from Belarus dominated the match, winning 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena. She will now face Madison Keys in Saturday’s final.
Notably, Melbourne Park remains a favorite for Sabalenka, who has now won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open. If she clinches the title, she will become the first player to win three consecutive titles at the tournament since Martina Hingis in 1999. Previously, only four other women—Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles—achieved this feat.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka said, “Super tough match against a friend. Super happy to be through.”
Friendship Takes a Back Seat
Although Sabalenka and Badosa share a strong bond, their friendship was set aside on the court. Sabalenka has previously called Badosa her “best friend” and “soulmate.” However, the match required full focus. Badosa, the 11th seed, had reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at 27, following a stunning victory over world number three Coco Gauff. She started the match with intensity and confidence, ready to challenge the reigning champion.A Shifting Momentum
Initially, Badosa gave Sabalenka a break-point opportunity with a double fault but quickly recovered, firing winners to hold her serve. Then, she capitalized on Sabalenka’s errors, taking a 2-0 lead after the top seed missed a forehand. However, Sabalenka quickly turned the momentum in her favor. She broke back from 0-40 down on Badosa’s serve and gained control. Winning three straight games, she surged ahead to a 4-2 lead. As the rain arrived, the roof was closed, yet Sabalenka’s rhythm remained unaffected. She closed the first set in 53 minutes with an ace, hitting 19 winners compared to Badosa’s six.A Brief Moment of Laughter
Early in the second set, Badosa slipped while reaching for a shot, momentarily halting the action. She gave a thumbs-up, prompting laughter from both players.
Despite the lighthearted moment, Sabalenka quickly refocused. She broke Badosa’s serve for a 2-1 lead after consecutive double faults from the Spaniard. With her powerful baseline game, Sabalenka dominated the remainder of the set, breaking again and sealing the match.