Aryna Sabalenka. (Pic Credit – X)
Sabalenka and Badosa Set for Semi-Final Clash
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, extending her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 19 matches. She will face Spain’s Paula Badosa, the 11th seed, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final after defeating world number three Coco Gauff in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
Reflecting on her match, Sabalenka stated, “Honestly, I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions. We both were struggling out there. I’m just super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match.” This marks Sabalenka’s pursuit of a third consecutive Australian Open title.
Badosa’s journey has been remarkable, especially considering she was dealing with a back injury a year ago. “I mean, a year ago, I was here with my back, wondering if I had to retire from this sport, and now I’m here playing against the best in the world,” she noted after her victory over Gauff. With this win, Badosa becomes the first Spanish woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Garbiñe Muguruza in 2020.
A powerful forehand down the line gave the Russian a 3-1 lead, and she carried the momentum to serve out the set to love, leveling the match. A crucial break in the eighth game allowed her to serve out the match, clinching victory in 1 hour and 53 minutes. Sabalenka’s win was a test of endurance and adaptability as increasingly windy conditions turned the match into a struggle for consistency. Both players found it difficult to hold serve in the deciding set. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the second set. Pavlyuchenkova found her rhythm, breaking Sabalenka twice and extending the rallies to wrest control. The third set was chaotic, with both players struggling to adapt to the gusty conditions. The first four games saw breaks of serve before Sabalenka steadied herself.