Aryna Sabalenka shares the deal she made with Paula Badosa ‘a long time ago’ ahead of their Australian Open semi-final

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa are set to renew their on-court rivalry as they prepare to go head-to-head in the Australian Open semi-final.

Badosa knocked out Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals in Melbourne, with the Spaniard pulling off a shock 7-5, 6-4 win over the WTA number three.

And Sabalenka impressed Carlos Alcaraz during her quarter-final win, where she overcame Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Sabalenka and Badosa will now play their eighth career match at the Australian Open, with the former currently boasting a favourable record.

The Belarusian has won five of their seven WTA matches so far, with the Spaniard having won their first two.

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Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa friends off-court but rivals on it

But as explained to Eurosport by the world number one after her latest win, it is a rivalry that is only limited to the court.

Asked how happy she is to see Badosa reach this stage, and indeed how difficult it will be to play one of her best friends, Sabalenka replied: “Oh, you know, we decided a long time ago that off-court we are friends, but on-court we are opponents.

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“I know that she’s been through a lot and to see her playing her best game, it’s unbelievable, and I’m super happy for her. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a great battle in the semis and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa Australian Open semi-final finely poised

Such relationships can, of course, be really put to the test when the stakes are as high as they are right now.

It is Sabalenka who will be feeling the pressure given her world number one status and the fact she has won the last two Australian Opens.

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Badosa, in contrast, quite simply has nothing to lose, with not many having expected the 11th seed to have made it this far.

At the same time, however, Sabalenka will be extremely confident of reaching the final given her hard-court form and her head-to-head record over Badosa.

The friendship will once again need to go out the window at Rod Laver Arena, with the pair evenly poised given how they have each dropped just one set thus far.

Their most recent clash incidentally did come at a Grand Slam, with Sabalenka beating her friend Badosa in the third round of the 2024 French Open.

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