Unstoppable Sabalenka outguns Badosa to reach third straight Australian Open final

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is into the Australian Open for the third year in a row after a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win over 12th seed Paula Badosa of Spain at Melbourne Park on Thursday evening.

The world No 1, winner of the title here in each of the past two years, came from an early break down in the first set before roaring away to victory in one hour, 26 minutes, becoming the first woman to make three straight finals in Melbourne since Serena Williams in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Sabalenka will play either world No 2 Iga Swiatek or American Madison Keys in the final on Saturday. If she wins the title she will be the first woman to win the title in three consecutive years since Martina Hingis in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

“That was a super-tough match against a friend,” she said. “Super-happy to see her on her highest level. It was a tough match, tough battle and I’m super happy to be through this difficult match.

“Here we are just opponents, but no matter what happens after we’re going to be friends. It’s tough to do but I think we’re doing pretty well. I hope she’s still my friend. I am sure she hates me for the next hour, day, but after that we’ll be back to being friends. I promise Paula we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants. (But) I’ll put a limit for her, because she can go crazy.”

Badosa starts fast before Sabalenka surges

On a cool evening at Melbourne Park, for three games it looked as if the first semi-final would be a tough encounter. Badosa, appearing in her first Grand Slam semi-final just a year after thinking she might have to quit the sport due to a chronic back injury, broke to lead 2-0 and raced to a 40-0 lead on her serve, taking advantage of some wild groundstrokes from the Belarusian.

That, though, was when Sabalenka knuckled down, cut out the errors and began to play the kind of tennis that has taken her to the top of the sport in the past year, winning three of the past eight Grand Slams, two Australian Opens and one US Open last September.

The top seed broke back for 2-1, held quickly and then broke again to move ahead before the roof was closed due to some light rain in the air.

Former world No 2 Badosa, who has stormed back up the rankings in the past 12 months, held her own from that point on but the damage was done and Sabalenka duly held to serve out the opener with her second ace.

Sabalenka turns the screw

There was a worrying moment for Badosa when she fell over chasing a forehand on the first point of the third game but she was unhurt, the two friends sharing a laugh over the moment, delaying the restart for a minute or two.

Badosa led 30-0 on her serve at 1-1 but Sabalenka crunched a couple of big groundstrokes to make it 30-30 and then two double faults from Badosa handed the world No 1 a break.

From then on, there was no stopping Sabalenka. The Belarusian held with the help of a deft drop shot and after Badosa double-faulted going for a 160kmh second serve at 1-3, deuce, she hit a forehand winner to grab a second break.

Sabalenka then held to deuce in the following game and though Badosa held for the first time in the set, she served out for victory and a place in the final once more.

You might also like this

Sabalenka says she almost quit when she had serving troubles in 2022

tennis majors

Australian and US Open, world No 1, Belarus, Tiger: Everything you always wanted to know about Aryna Sabalenka (but never had time to find out) – updated after Brisbane International 2025 victory

tennis majors

“It feels like home” – two-time defending champion Sabalenka breezes past Stephens in Melbourne

tennis majors