Paula Badosa shook her head and smiled after the ball sailed past her at lightning speed giving her opponent Aryna Sabalenka match point. She looked to her box as if to say ‘Can you believe this?’.
In her first grand slam semifinal, she was playing the world number one and good friend Sabalenka, who was about to book her spot in the final. There was nothing she could do to stop the storm coming her way.
That storm, Sabalenka, claimed a straight sets 6-4, 6-2 victory to put herself within reach of a third-straight Australian Open title, which she will contest on Saturday. If she wins, she’ll become the first player since Martina Hingis to claim a three-peat of titles at Melbourne Park.
“It’s a privilege. If I’m able to put my name into history, it will mean a lot. It will mean the world to me. It’s been a dream. I mean, I couldn’t even dream about that to be honest,” Sabalenka said post-match.
“First I was dreaming to win at least one grand slam. Now, I have this opportunity. It’s incredible. I’m going to go out and leave everything I have in the final.”
Aryna Sabalenka was too strong for Paula Badosa in the semifinals. (Hannah Peters: Getty Images)
With past three-peat champions Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Margaret Court watching on from the stands, Sabalenka came back from being 0-2, 0-40 down to win in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
When she clicked into gear after the first two games, she clicked hard. She hit 32 winners to Badosa’s 11.
And according to Badosa, it was the best match Sabalenka played this year.
“I don’t think I have much to say … the level of Aryna today, she played like a number one. I couldn’t do much more today,” Badosa said.
“I was playing good. I mean, the first set was really tight, a good level. Then in the second set she started to be very, very aggressive. Everything was working … If she plays like this (in the final), I mean, we can already give her the trophy.”
Paula Badosa had no answers for the questions Aryna Sabalenka served up. (Clive Brunskill: Getty Images)
Sabalenka isn’t getting that far ahead of herself yet. She knows winning a final is no easy feat.
“I just have to go there and I have to just fight for every point. I have to stay focused. I have to bring my best tennis if it’s going to happen.”
One of the main talking points post-match with the pair’s friendship — they have previously gone as far as to call each other ‘soulmates’ before — which you’d expect to be tested in such a high-stakes match.
However, Sabalenka was seen consoling an upset Badosa in the players’ area after the battle. Badosa said she was telling her friend “it was really unfair” she played at such a high level against her.
“She came 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,” said Badosa.
“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.”
Sabalenka had a similar jovial answer in her post-match court interview.
“No matter (what happens) on the court we’ll be friends after our matches. It’s tough to do. We agreed on that,” Sabalenka said.
“I think we’re doing it pretty well … I hope she’s still my friend. I mean, I’m sure she’ll hate me for the next, I don’t know, hour or day or two. I can handle that. After that I think we’re back to being friends. Back to going out together, shopping. “
After Jelena Dokic quipped “You might have to pay that bill though for the shopping now”, Sabalenka replied: “I promise Paula, we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants.”
