Sabalenka, Badosa Clash in Australian Open Semifinals

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa, best friends off the court, are set to clash in the Australian Open semifinals as Sabalenka aims for her third consecutive title. Badosa secured her spot by defeating third seed Coco Gauff, marking her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance, while Sabalenka overcame Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The defending champion holds a 5-2 record against Badosa but insists their friendship will not affect their competitiveness during the match. Sabalenka expressed pride in her opportunity to potentially join the ranks of players who have achieved a three-peat, a feat last accomplished by Martina Hingis. She emphasized a focus on delivering her best performance step by step, rather than speculating on her chances of historical success. Both players are eager to win, setting the stage for an intense and emotionally charged semifinal.