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

Badosa, after stunning American third seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals, benefited in the early stages as a tense Sabalenka conceded an immediate break on serve with four unforced errors.

Badosa was within a point of taking a 3-0 lead before Sabalenka switched gears.

The three-time major winner then took charge, reeling off four straight matches and was relentless from there.

Despite their relationship off the field, both players gave little away and barely exchanged a glance as they remained focused on their respective tasks.

But in a rare glimpse into their friendship, they shared relieved smiles after Badosa fell at the start of the second set, before raising a reassuring thumbs up as she lay on the court.

What started as a fiercely contested match began to slip away from Badosa as she gave Sabalenka control of set two and conceded a break on serve with back-to-back double faults.

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

Sabalenka, who was later seen consoling Badosa in the players’ area, said: “It was a super tough match against a friend, I’m super happy to see her at her highest level.

“After a few games against each other, we have talked and decided to put it aside, and here we both really wanted to.”