Aryna Sabalenka advanced to her third consecutive Australian Open final after defeating her close friend Paula Badosa with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Badosa, the 11th seed, started strong in her first Grand Slam semifinal, taking an early 2-0 lead and even reaching 40-0 on her serve. However, she faltered, allowing Sabalenka to capitalize on her mistakes and quickly regain momentum in the set.
The turning point came in the third game when Badosa lost her serve despite having a commanding position. This setback seemed to affect her confidence as she dropped her serve again in the fifth game, giving Sabalenka a crucial break. The Belarusian held her serve to close out the first set, leaving Badosa to regroup after a disappointing start. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, her struggles continued into the second set, where she faced back-to-back breaks despite initially leading 30-0 in both games.
With a set and a double break advantage, Sabalenka maintained her composure, holding serve for the remainder of the match to secure the victory. The top seed showcased her dominance with 32 winners and converted four of her nine break point opportunities. Now, Sabalenka awaits the winner of the semifinal clash between Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, as she aims to capture her third consecutive Australian Open title. Having previously triumphed in 2023 against Elena Rybakina and in 2022 against Zheng Qinwen, she is poised for another showdown with her biggest rival unless Keys manages to pull off an upset.
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