Australian Open 2025 results: Paula Badosa beats Coco Gauff to reach first major semi-final
Paula Badosa defeated Coco Gauff at the Australian Open to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final – just a year after she feared she would have to retire from tennis.
The Spaniard, a former world number two, spent almost two years battling back problems and dropped to 140th in the rankings.
But, after a strong finish to 2024, Badosa’s comeback continued in sensational fashion as she ended American Gauff’s 13-match winning streak with a 7-5 6-4 victory.
“I’m a little emotional – as you know, I’m a very emotional person,” Badosa said.
“I’ve been through a lot. I was one of the best players in the world in the past but I think I’m a better player now.”
Badosa was named the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2024. She missed two of the four major championships in 2023 after recovering from a stress fracture in her spine.
The 27-year-old won her first title in more than two years at the Washington Open in August and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open a month later.
“A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this game or not,” said Badosa, the 11th seed.
“Now I’m here playing against the best players in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals.
“I would never have thought that a year later I would be here. It’s a dream come true.”
In the next round, she will face two-time defending champion and close friend Aryna Sabalenka or 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.
