Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka put her close friendship with Paula Badosa aside Thursday to sweep past the Spaniard into a third successive Australian

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is just one win away from a hat-trick of Australian Open titles after seeing off best friend Paula Badosa to reach a third straight final.

American Madison Keys stunned world No. 2 Iga Świątek in an all-time Australian Open classic, coming from a set down to win 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) and set up a final showdown against Aryna Sabalenka.

Aryna Sabalenka will not let her friendship with Paula Badosa affect her quest to win a third successive Australian Open title when the best friends clash in the semi-finals, the defending champion said on Tuesday.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Paula Badosa in straight sets during their 2025 Australian Open semifinal match. Despite their close friendship off the court, Badosa playfully demanded a "big gift" from Sabalenka before extending her forgiveness.

This was Paula Badosa's best-ever run at a Grand Slam, with the Spaniard having previously fallen in the quarter-finals at the 2021 French Open and last year's US Open

The 27-year-old Spaniard will face two-time defending champion and best friend Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the final. Read more at straitstimes.com.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Paula Badosa in straight sets at the Australian Open 2025 semifinals. The Belarusian will face 14th ranked Madison Keys at the finals which is scheduled to take place on 25th January at Rod Laver Arena.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside her close friendship with Paula Badosa on 23 January to secure her place in a third consecutive Australian Open final. The world number one defeated the Spaniard 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena and now awaits either Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in Saturday's title clash.

In the Australian Open final, Aryana Sabalenka will attempt to emulate Martina Hingis’ three consecutive title wins from 1997 to 1999.

Aryna Sabalenka is the first woman to reach three singles finals in a row at the Australian Open since Serena Williams (2015-2017) and the youngest since Martina Hingis (1997-2002)

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka put her close friendship with Paula Badosa aside Thursday to sweep past the Spaniard into a third successive Australian Open final. She has now won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open to close in on a third consecutive crown -- something that hasn't happened this century.