Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka Overpowers Paula Badosa to Near 3rd Consecutive Title in Melbourne
Sabalenka Moves One Win Away from History
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka moved one win away from becoming the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, recovering from a slow start to beat good friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 Thursday night and return to the final.
Slow Start Gives Way to Dominant Performance
Just 10 minutes into her semifinal, Sabalenka was down a break and trailed 2-0, 40-love. She was making unforced errors, shaking her head or gesturing toward her entourage in the stands after many. But the 26-year-old from Belarus quickly figured things out, especially once Rod Laver Arena’s retractable roof was shut late in the first set because of a drizzle. She straightened her strokes, frequently using huge returns and groundstrokes to overpower the 11th-seeded Badosa, who had eliminated No. 3 Coco Gauff on Tuesday to reach her first major semifinal.
Sabalenka’s Dominance
Sabalenka finished with a 32-11 advantage in winners. That’s the sort of excellence that helped Sabalenka win her first major trophy at Melbourne Park in 2023, and she since has added two more — in Australia a year ago and at the U.S. Open last September. The key statistic: Sabalenka finished with a 32-11 advantage in winners.
Friendship Despite Competition
Despite their intense rivalry on the court, Sabalenka and Badosa maintain a strong friendship off it. They did their best to avoid any eye contact for much of the evening, whether up at the net for the coin toss or when they crossed paths at changeovers. One exception came early in the second set, when Badosa tumbled to the court and flung her racket away to avoid injury. Badosa immediately put up a thumb to make clear she was fine. When a replay was shown on stadium video screens, Sabalenka pantomimed to indicate Badosa took a dive, and they both smiled.
Next Match
Sabalenka will face either No. 2 Iga Swiatek or No. 19 Madison Keys for the championship. The women’s final is scheduled for Saturday.
Conclusion
Sabalenka is one win away from making history and becoming the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. With her dominant performance against Badosa, she is well on her way to achieving this milestone.
FAQs
Q: Who is Aryna Sabalenka?
A: Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player who has won two Grand Slam titles and is currently the No. 1 seed at the Australian Open.
Q: Who did Sabalenka beat in the semifinals?
A: Sabalenka beat Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals.
Q: Who will Sabalenka face in the final?
A: Sabalenka will face either Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in the final.
Q: What is Sabalenka’s goal?
A: Sabalenka’s goal is to become the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.
