"No place for friendship": Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa prepare for a special Australian Open semifinal

Aryna Sabalenka hopes to set aside her friendship with Paula Badosa ahead of their Australian Open semifinal clash. The two players, who have often spoken about their strong bond off the court and close relationship, are now preparing to fight for a spot in the first Grand Slam final of the year.

The world No. 1 enters the match as the heavy favourite, being the two-time defending champion, with a streak of 10 consecutive wins to start the season and 19 straight victories at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka is chasing her third consecutive title, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis between 1997 and 1999.

On the other side, Badosa has reached her first Grand Slam semifinal and recently defeated third seed Coco Gauff, ending the American’s nine-match winning streak to start the season. The Spaniard has the tools to challenge Sabalenka, and their familiarity with each other's game promises a highly competitive match.

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Sabalenka and Badosa set friendship aside

Sabalenka’s path to the semifinal wasn’t without challenges. She overcame 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a tough match, where she had to fight back from a break down in the third set. At times, it seemed her dream of securing a fourth major title was slipping away, but she relied on her experience to seal the win over the former French Open finalist.

“We decided a long time ago that off the court we are friends, while on the court she really wants to win, I really want to win,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview after defeating Pavlyuchenkova. “So on the court, we are competitors, and there is no place for friendship.”

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Sabalenka’s confidence remains unshaken as she approaches this special match—not only because it’s an opportunity to return to a Grand Slam final but also because she will face a close friend. She addressed this in her press conference: “I mean, she’s a great player, and she’s been through a lot. Now she’s back at her best game. I’m really happy to see that. I’ve seen her matches here; she’s playing really great tennis.”

“I think I just need to focus on myself and stay aggressive, putting her under a lot of pressure,” added the three-time Grand Slam champion. “Yeah, I’m really excited to face her in the semis. It’s definitely going to be a great battle, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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The Spaniard is brimming with confidence ahead of Thursday’s match. She secured her first-ever victory against a top-10 player in a Grand Slam main draw and has guaranteed her return to the top 10 after the tournament. Currently, she is ranked No. 9 in the live rankings.

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