Aryna Sabalenka has reached her third consecutive Australian Open final after beating Paula Badosa in straight sets.
Sabalenka and Badosa are good friends, but had to put their off-court relationship to the side as they competed for a place in the Australian Open final.
The world number one has been dominant in Melbourne once again, with Sabalenka dropping only one set in her run to the final.
Having won her first major title at the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka has made improvements ahead of what could be her fourth Grand Slam victory.
What Aryna Sabalenka told Paula Badosa in the locker room
After the match, Badosa was seen looking reflective sat on the locker room, before being met by Sabalenka.
The pair appeared to put the match behind them and spoke with one another as friends, with Badosa revealing what Sabalenka told her in the post-match press conference.
“That it was really unfair for me that she played this level today (smiling),” said Badosa. “I was expecting, of course, a good level, but maybe not that much.
“But no, she came, like, to say that she played three semifinals before she won a title. She was very proud of my improvement lately, especially with all I’ve been through.
“So, yeah, we were just joking around. I’m really happy that, look, if I have to lose against somebody, of course I want to lose against world number one and against Aryna, and I wish her the best.”
Paula Badosa on the positives after nearly quitting tennis last year
After beating Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, Badosa admitted she nearly retired from tennis last year after struggling with a back injury.
Badosa was ranked as low as world number 140 in May last year, and after reaching the Australian Open semi-final has confirmed her return to the top 10.
This was brought up to Badosa following her semi-final defeat, with the Spaniard taking the positives from her run in Melbourne.
“Yeah, no, it’s really, really positive,” said Badosa. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting maybe improving or going so fast. I didn’t check, but seeing the results of everyone, now I know I’m top 10, but I think the last months maybe it’s top 5 of the players that have win most matches.
“So for me that’s insane, and it’s an insane improvement, an insane improvement mentally, of believing, of coming back from that. I mean, I was once top 10, but doing it two times I think not a lot of people are capable of that. I’m really proud of myself because it’s not easy when you’re 100 in the world and you have to face these kind of players, but in the first round. Coming back from that, I’m really, really proud of the journey.”
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