Open Australia: Too much Sabalenka for a good version of Badosa

Paula Badosa will not be able to be the fourth national racket in the final of the Australian Open after Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1994 and 1995), Conchita Martínez (1998) and Garbiñe Muguruza (2020). The tennis player from Begur lost this Thursday in the semifinals at the hands of Aryna Sabakenka, 6-4 and 6-2. The ‘major’ of the Antipodes will continue to be the only one of the big four in which the name of a Spanish player does not appear.

It is true that Badosa had won two of the previous seven with the Belarusianbut to find her last triumph we had to go back to the 2021 Women’s Masters. Since then, six victories in a row for the world number one, who grits her teeth in Melbourne to defend the scepter of the women’s circuit that Iga Swiatek is pursuing.

If the Polish woman is on the other side of the net on Saturday then Sabakenka will be obliged to lift the trophy for the third consecutive year. Since the retirement of Australian Ash Barty, the WTA has not known a number 1 other than them. Both take turns at the top from April 4, 2022.

Paula will also be watching the semifinal between Swiatek and Madison Keys. And a victory for the American would relegate her to tenth place on the lists when they are updated next Monday, January 27. Pol Toledo’s pupil will return to the ‘top10’ for the first time since the week of October 17, 2022.

Sabalenka has her lair on the slopes of Melbourne Park. He has won 20 consecutive games and has not lost since the round of 16 in 2022 with Kaia Kanepi. That is why she aspires to a triple crown that has not been seen in the capital of Victoria since Martina Hingis (1997 to 1999). The tennis player who hits harder than her colleagues on the men’s circuit once again gave a lesson in power. It was hard to think that I would have a second bad day. He lived it in the rooms with the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkovabut she came out alive and now she is going for the loot.

The particular Melbourne summer was 18 degrees. The semifinal was about to start indoors because minutes before it was raining. The pressure on the rest of the current champion caused the Spanish’s first double fault: 30-40. Paula then hit a racket at 188 kilometers per hour. Sabalenka was a little more nervous. Their opponent enjoyed a 2-0 and 40-0. She didn’t take advantage of her good start because in front of her was the best player on the planet. The battle was ready. In 22 minutes four games had been played: 2-2.

From a possible 3-0 to 2-4

Aryna experienced something that never happens. From the other side of the net missiles were coming at her even stronger than the ones she throws. The tennis player from Minsk was able to break the match with a second break in the fifth game. He had four opportunities to do so. Badosa held onto the track to prevent it from happening. He gave back the possible and the impossible too. He picked up three balls. He couldn’t handle the fourth. The 2-3 break was taken advantage of to close the cover due to the bad weather.

The Catalan had lost four rounds in a row but was still in the set: 3-4. He had a serve at 191 kilometers per hour that many men would like. Sabakenka closed the opening round in his own way: hitting everything that moved. The two protagonists are clear exponents of current tennis and where aggressiveness is above all.. The good vibes between the semi-finalists was demonstrated when Paula slipped on the cement and gave her friend a thumbs up to let her know she was okay. There were knowing smiles.

Aryna’s forehands traveled at an average of 128 kilometers per hour and they could not be countered even with a shield. Two double faults in the third game of the continuation sentenced Badosa’s fate. Paula lost, but at the same time she has returned.

Tour of the Persian Gulf
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The brand new semi-finalist will return to Dubai, where she has resided for three years, and will take a few days of rest before preparing for her next commitment on the calendar: el WTA 500 Abu Dhabi (February 3 to 8). The tour of the Persian Gulf will continue in Doha, a 1000 tournament (9 to 15) and will end in Dubai (16 to 22), also in the same category. If you take into account that he only defends 211 points until Rome, in Mayhas many options to continue climbing positions until Roland Garros, the big one marked with capital letters. At 27 years old, he has time to make his dream come true.