Aryna Sabalenka's most recent victory over Paula Badosa highlighted the unique dynamics of friendship and rivalry in tennis.
In a gripping match at the 2023 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Aryna Sabalenka overcame Paula Badosa in a thrilling three-set showdown. What made this encounter truly exceptional was not only the high-quality tennis on display but the heartwarming camaraderie between the two players.
The Belarusian later revealed some amusing thoughts she had during the match, which demonstrated the fine balance between friendship and competition, which her opponent and friend talked about even before the match.
Sabalenka explained that she found herself hesitating to scream her usual "come on" during the match, as she didn't want to appear disrespectful to her friend Badosa. Nevertheless, the Belarusian powerhouse couldn't help but let her competitive spirit shine through, deciding to address the matter with her friend later on.
"We know how to separate on-court life and off-court life, but there were some moments on court where I was about to scream 'come on' then I was like 'I don't know, should I or not, she's my friend, she'll be thinking I'm stupid. But anyway I was just screaming, thinking that I will speak with her later, but it's tough to play against your friend."
After the match, Sabalenka and Badosa wasted no time in catching up and discussing their experiences on the court. Their conversation continued over lunch, where they planned future get-togethers in Madrid. With smiles all around, it was clear that their friendship remained unshaken despite the fierce battle they had just waged on the tennis courts of the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart.
"We already had some conversation straight after the match. Then right now in the lunch, we spoke a little bit, planned our lunch or dinner Madrid. We're good, we're good (smiling)."
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