Sabalenka sweeps past Badosa for third consecutive AO final

With the victory, 26-year-old Sabalenka is the first player to reach three consecutive AO women’s singles finals since Serena Williams in 2017, and the youngest to do so since Martina Hingis in 2002.

She is also just the third player in the past decade to achieve a 20-match winning streak at a single Grand Slam, joining Williams, who accomplished the feat at the US Open and Wimbledon, and Iga Swiatek, who did it at Roland Garros.

“I’m so proud of myself,” she said. “It was (a) super tough match against a friend,” said Sabalenka, who has won six of the pair’s eight meetings. “I hope she’s still my friend, I’m sure she’ll hate me for the next hour, day or two,” she smiled, offering to pay for the duo’s next shopping spree, with the caveat that there would be a limit.

Putting their close friendship aside, the pair – who have described each other as ‘soulmates’ – were all business from the start.

A double fault from the 12th seeded Spaniard gave Sabalenka an opportunity for a break point in the opening game, although Badosa fended it off with a booming 189km/h serve.

A shaky first service game from the top seed was welcomed by a steady Badosa, who secured the first break of the match only to immediately concede the advantage. Forced to five deuces in her next service game, Badosa saved a trio of break points before capitulating on the fourth as a relentless Sabalenka combined her disc and power to great effect, successfully moving her opponent back and forth to capture it almost 10 minutes long games. .

The world No 1 consolidated that break as the match progressed under closed roofs and although an undeterred Badosa, competing in her first major semi-final, hung tough, Sabalenka maintained her lead and sealed the set with her second ace of the match.