Sabalenka Downs Badosa, Closes in on Aussie Open Three-Peat

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 23, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka spent the 2024 tennis season dominating the hardcourt majors in eye-opening fashion, winning all 14 matches she played at them as she claimed her second and third major titles.

Paula Badosaon the other hand, spent much of the 2024 season gripped by angst, not knowing if her career would soon be over due to debilitating back injury that she couldn’t seem to put behind her. The former World No.2 dipped to 139 in the rankings in the spring, but started to see the light at the end of the tunnel at Wimbledon, where she reached the round of 16.

“I know it’s not my first time in the second week of a Grand Slam,” Badosa said at the time, “But for me it’s a special one because a few months ago I didn’t know if I could play tennis anymore. So to be here is very special.”

The Spaniard has been one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 Australian Open, but her dream run was cut short on Thursday night by Sabalenka, who continues to thrive at the top of the women’s game.

In this battle of BFFs, there was little time for friendship on Thursday as Sabalenka efficiently dismantled the Spaniard with a breathtaking display, 6-4, 6-2.

“It was a super-tough match against a friend,” Sabalenka said of her 86-minute display of premium power tennis. “It was a tough match, tough battle, and I’m happy to be through this difficult match.”

Sabalenka notches her 20th consecutive Australian Open victory, and closes in on an historic milestone.

The 26-year-old is now one win from becoming the first woman to complete an Aussie Open three-peat since Martina Hingis in 1999.

“I have goosebumps, honestly,” said Sabalenka. “I’m proud of myself and proud of my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation. It’s a privilege, and if I’m able to put my name in history it’s gonna be the world for me.”

The World No.1, who has reached the final in each of the last five hardcourt majors, is the first woman to reach three consecutive Australian Open finals since Serena Williams in 2017.

Badosa, playing in her first major semifinal, drew first blood on a cooler-than-usual evening inside Rod Laver Arena (the roof was closed when rain sprinkles intervened in the first set), breaking for 2-0 in the opening set, but a few minutes later, when Sabalenka powered a drive volley winner into the open court for 2-2, the Spaniard had experienced her last lead of the evening.

Badosa had 2-0, 40-0 in the third game, and held four game game points in total, but a determined Sabalenka hit her way out of trouble and never looked back.

In the fifth game of the first set, a tug-of-war ensued, with both players trading heavy blows until Sabalenka finally converted her fourth break point to lead 3-2, 32 minutes into the contest.

Too much depth, too much power, too much variety – too much game.

An ace down the T, Sabalenka’s second ace of the set – and her 19th winner (in 39 points played!) – settled accounts in a 53-minute opening set, 6-4.

Back-to-back double faults gave Sabalenka a 2-1 lead in the second set.

Under constant pressure from the heavy attack of Sabalenka, Badosa yielded another break for 4-1 two games later as Sabalenka fired a laser up the line for a clean winner that left Badosa looking at her team and shaking her head as if to say “What can I do?”

As many have found out, there isn’t much to do when Sabalenka is in full flight.

“You don’t have time to breathe, you don’t have time to think, and you just know when an important moment comes, Sabalenka is going to hit something great,” said former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, who was commentating the match for ESPN.

Badosa tacked on a final game with a hold for 5-2, but Sabalenka quickly closed the door, holding at love to clinch her 28th career Australian Open win.

Sabalenka finished with 32 winners and 21 unforced errors, to 11 winners and 15 unforced errors for Badosa.

After the victory she assured on-court interviewer Jelena Djokic that there would be no hard feelings between herself and Badosa – at least she hoped so.

“We both want it badly, it’s our dream, and here we are just opponents – no matter what happens on the court we are going to be friends after our matches. It’s tough to do but we agreed on that. I think we’re doing pretty well, I’m sure she’ll hate me for the next hour or day or two, I can handle that, and after that we’re back to being friends.”

“I promise Paula we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever [you] want.”