Australian Open 2025 results: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa to reach final and continue bid for third Melbourne title

Badosa defeated American third seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals, taking advantage in the early stages as a tense Sabalenka conceded an immediate service break with four unforced errors.

Badosa was close to taking a 3–0 lead before Sabalenka changed gears.

The three-time major winner then took charge, winning four consecutive games and losing consecutively from there.

Despite their off-court relationship, both players kept a very close distance, barely glancing at each other as they remained focused on their respective tasks.

But, in a rare glimpse of their friendship, they shared relieved smiles after Badosa fell early in the second set and then gave a reassuring thumbs-up as they lay on the court.

What started as a tightly contested match began to go away from Badosa when she gifted control of set two to Sabalenka and conceded a service break with back-to-back double faults.

Another double fault in the fifth game gave Sabalenka the chance for a second break, which she seized with one of her 32 winners before serving in an hour and 26 minutes.

Sabalenka, who was later seen consoling Badosa in the players’ area, said: “It was an extremely difficult match against a friend, I’m very happy to see him at his highest level.

“After a few battles against each other we talked and decided to put it aside, and here we both wanted it that badly.”