Aryna Sabalenka is looking to win her third consecutive Australian Open title at this year’s tournament.
Winning a Grand Slam title is one thing, defending it is another, but winning three in a row is an achievement that most WTA stars could only dream of.
For Sabalenka, that dream is just two matches away from becoming a reality, as the 2023, and 2024 champion gets set for her semi-final match.
To reach a third-consecutive final, she’ll have to get past Paula Badosa, who shocked Coco Gauff in her quarter-final match.
The Spaniard had never made it out the fourth round at the Australian Open before 2025, and is competing in her maiden Slam semi-final.
There aren’t many brave enough to back Badosa against Sabalenka, as one tennis legend has now pointed out the two things that must happen for the 27-year-old to advance to the final.
Andy Roddick says Paula Badosa has to serve ‘great’ to stand a chance of beating Aryna Sabalenka
Speaking on his Quick Served podcast, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick explained what has to happen for Badosa to beat the world number one in Melbourne.
“[Aryna] Sabalenka’s got the better of this one overall, I think she has to play below her floor for [Paula] Badosa to have a chance, and I love Paula Badosa, I’ve been singing her praises this entire two weeks,” he said.
“It just becomes a matchup issue.
“I think Badosa has to serve great for this to go her way.”
The world number 12’s serve hasn’t always been at its best in Melbourne this year, varying from game to game.
| Round/Opponent | First serve % | Win % on first serve | Win % on second serve | Aces | Double faults |
| QF – Coco Gauff | 57 | 64 | 68 | 3 | 2 |
| 4R – Olga Danilovic | 67 | 82 | 56 | 7 | 3 |
| 3R – Marta Kostyuk | 58 | 65 | 57 | 3 | 3 |
| 2R – Talia Gibson | 55 | 86 | 75 | 3 | 2 |
| 1R – Wang Xinyu | 75 | 67 | 60 | 3 | 2 |
Roddick went on to praise Badosa for her win over Gauff, but explained how things won’t be quite so easy against the Belarussian.
“[Paula] Badosa did a great job of when the ball was hanging in the middle of the court against Coco Gauff, really letting go on the forehand,” he said.
“The problem is [Aryna] Sabalenka doesn’t really leave balls hanging.”
With that in mind, Roddick made his prediction for the highly anticipated semi-final clash.
“Sabalenka hasn’t been in full flight yet, I think Badosa has,” he said.
“I just think the matchup favors Sabalenka in this one.”
Aryna Sabalenka searches for 20th consecutive win at the Australian Open
Sabalenka’s streak in Melbourne is one that should worry any opponent that stands on the opposite side of the net to her.
The Belarussian has now won 19 straight matches at the Australian Open, with her last defeat at the event coming 1,094 days ago.
She lot to Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi on that day, 7-5, 2-6, 6-7, before embarking on a legendary run that may well continue for many matches to come.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| F | Elena Rybakina [22] | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| SF | Magda Linette | 7-6, 6-2 |
| QF | Donna Vekic | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 4R | Belinda Bencic [12] | 7-5, 6-2 |
| 3R | Elise Mertens [26] | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2R | Shelby Rogers | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 1R | Tereza Martincova | 6-1, 6-4 |
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| F | Qinwen Zheng [12] | 6-3, 6-2 |
| SF | Coco Gauff [4] | 7-6, 6-4 |
| QF | Barbora Krejcikova [9] | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 4R | Amanda Anisimova [PR] | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 3R | Lesia Tsurenko [28] | 6-0, 6-0 |
| 2R | Brenda Fruhvirtova [Q] | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 1R | Ella Seidel [Q] | 6-0, 6-1 |
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| QF | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [27] | 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 |
| 4R | Mirra Andreeva [14] | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 3R | Clara Tauson | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2R | Jessica Bouzas Maneiro | 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1R | Sloane Stephens | 6-3, 6-2 |
While Sabalenka has won 19 in a row at Melbourne Park, Badosa is yet to win 19 matches at the Australian Open in her career.
The Spanish former world number two had won just six matches at the tournament ahead of the 2025 event, with her tally increasing to 11 thanks to a strong run to the semis.
She’ll be hoping to add a 12th against Sabalenka, and snap her 1,000+ day unbeaten streak in the semi-finals.
Badosa and Sabalenka will face off for a place in the final on Thursday, January 23.
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