World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a huge scare to reach the Australian Open semi-finals and set up a mouthwatering clash with Paula Badosa.
Sabalenka was a break down in the third and final set against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova but rallied to win 6-2 2-6 6-3.
The Belarusian, who dropped her first set of the tournament, is hoping to become the first woman to secure her third-straight Australian Open since Martina Hingis achieved the feat 26 years ago.
The 26-year-old will now look forward to a 10th career Grand Slam semi-final after good friend and former world number two Badosa beat Coco Gauff in straight sets.
Ahead of that crunch encounter with Badosa, Sabalenka outlined her thoughts on playing her good friend and what she needed to do to beat her.
Aryna Sabalenka ‘excited’ for Paula Badosa match
Sabalenka and Badosa have met on seven occasions, with the former coming out on top in five of those meetings.
The three-time Grand Slam winner is on a five-match winning streak against the Spaniard, but Sabalenka admits Badosa is now “back to her best” after upsetting third-seed Gauff.
She said in her post-match press conference: “I mean, she’s [Badosa] a great player and she has been through a lot. Now she’s back on her best game.
“I’m really happy to see that. Yeah, I saw her games here. She’s playing really great tennis, I think. I think I just need to focus on myself, and I have to stay aggressive, and I have to put her under a lot of pressure.
“Yeah, I’m really excited to face her in the semis. It’s definitely going to be great battle, and I’m really looking forward [to it].”
READ MORE: Mats Wilander praises Aryna Sabalenka for doing something he never believed she would
Why are Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa ‘soulmates’?
Sabalenka and Badosa have been close friends for a few years now, with some fans affectionately dubbing them “Sabadosa”. Indeed, last April, the Belarusian said they were “soulmates”.
At a press conference in Stuttgart, she said: “I love Paula [Badosa] very much. I love Paula [Badosa] very much. We have been friends for three or four years. She is an incredible person.
“It is very important to have friends on the circuit, so when you find someone who you feel is your soulmate, it is the best thing that can happen to you.”
Badosa was named the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2024 after recovering from a stress fracture in her spine the year prior.
She will hope will aim to end Sabalenka’s winning run at the Australian Open on Thursday.
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