After Aryna Sabalenka’s victory over Paula Badosa in the Australian Open semifinals, Sabalenka made a playful promise to her friend: she would take Badosa shopping and pay for whatever she wanted. This lighthearted comment quickly became a highlight of the post-match interview, showcasing Sabalenka’s fun personality. However, Badosa responded with a smile, saying, “She needs to buy something very expensive.” This exchange highlighted the strong friendship between the two players, even in the midst of intense competition.
The camaraderie between Sabalenka and Badosa has been well-documented, with both players often expressing their mutual respect and affection. Despite the competitive nature of their match, the warm embrace they shared at the net was a testament to their bond. Sabalenka’s victory improved her head-to-head record against Badosa to 6-2, and she advanced to her third consecutive Australian Open final.
As Sabalenka prepares for the final, she remains focused on her goal of winning a third straight title at Melbourne Park. Meanwhile, Badosa, despite the loss, had a breakthrough tournament, reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal and securing a return to the Top 10 in the WTA rankings. The shopping promise, while humorous, also serves as a reminder of the strong friendships that can develop even among fierce competitors.
Sabalenka at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Now the world no.1, Aryna owns a compiled 11-0 record in 2025. The Belarussian is participating at the Australian Open where she conquered the world no.81 Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2, the world no.54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 7-5, the world no.42 Clara Tauson 7-6(5) 6-4, the world no.15 Mirra Andreeva 6-1 6-2, the world no.32 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 2-6 6-3 and the world no.12 Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2.
The Belarussian conquered 1 title in 2025 in Brisbane.
The Belarussian won 18 titles in her career: 14 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Paula Badosa in 2025
LWLLWLLLWW At the moment ranked no.12, Badosa played her last match on the 23rd of January when she lost to world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-2 in the semifinal of the Australian Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Paula has an overall 6-3 win-loss record. Paula Badosa’s latest run at the Australian Open was the best achievement of her season.
Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa squared off 8 times. Their record is 6-2 for Sabalenka.
