World No. 1 Sabalenka Reaches Third Consecutive Australian Open Final After Beating Badosa
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Aryna Sabalenka seems to be unstoppable at the Australian Open. In the semi-finals, she easily outplayed her good friend Paula Badosa.
It seemed that if someone could stop the WTA World No. 1 before the final in Melbourne this year, it could be Badosa. The Spaniard bested her good friend twice before, and every time they played, it was a close match.
Early on in this match, it seemed like that could be the case again. Badosa, who stunned Coco Gauff in the previous round, opened the match really well. Despite hitting a double fault in her first service game, she battled through deuce to lead 1-0.
Sabalenka's start, on the other hand, was incredibly nervous. In her first service game, the Belarusian player made four unforced errors, three of which came from her first shot, practically gifting her opponent a break of serve.
But Badosa couldn't use this gift to her advantage. Despite leading 40-0 on her serve in the third game, she lost her serve. Sabalenka started hitting more precisely, and a couple of winners and forced errors from her opponent helped her to break back.
At this year's Australian Open, Sabalenka had much more experience playing the night session at the Rod Laver Arena, which maybe helped her also early on in this match.
She hit three winners to hold and level the score at 2-2, and it started looking like Sabalenka, which fans know very well. She confirmed that by hitting four more winners in the next game and breaking Badosa's serve to lead for the first time in the match, 3-2.
The Spanish player needed a response, and she needed it fast, but she couldn't find any. The top seed was blowing her off the court as she hit two more winners and an ace to win the next game and lead 4-2.
Players fought hard for the next game, hitting winners left and right, and ultimately, Badosa won it to reduce her deficit to 3-4 and stay in the set. But the remainder of the first set saw both players hold their serves easily, which is why Sabalenka won it 6-4.
It seemed that the two-time Australian Open champion might have needed to calm herself down a bit, having to play against her good friend, and once she settled into her rhythm, she was unplayable.
But Badosa helped her, too. At 1-1 in the second set, the Spaniard served and led 30-0. Although she lost that lead and the scoreboard soon showed 30-30, she still could have easily served out the game.
However, Badosa made two consecutive double faults, which was a disaster for her. She very easily gave away her serve, and Sabalenka capitalized on that as she continued her winner-fest in the next game, leading already 3-1.
With another double fault to set up a break point in the next game, Badosa once again helped her friend to break, and there was no coming back from that for the 11th seed.
Sabalenka controlled the rest of the set, and thematically, she ended the match with one more forehand winner, winning 6-4, 6-2 to reach her third consecutive Australian Open final.
In the final, the Belarusian player will await the winner of the match between her rival Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys.
