Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa, close friends, will face each other as rivals at the Australian Open on Thursday.
This marks the eighth meeting of their careers and the fourth in the past year. However, this semi-final clash at a Grand Slam will be their most significant encounter, highlighting their strong personal connection.
Early Careers and Initial Matches
Born just six months apart (Badosa in November 1997 and Sabalenka in May 1998), both players grew up idolizing stars like Serena and Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova.
Badosa shone as a junior, winning the French Open girls’ singles title in 2015, but her transition to senior tennis was challenging. Meanwhile, Sabalenka quickly made her mark, securing her first WTA title at the Connecticut Open in 2018 and amassing five titles, including two WTA 1000 events, by the end of 2019.
Badosa found her stride in 2021, capturing her first WTA title in Belgrade, reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals, and achieving her biggest career win at Indian Wells by defeating former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.
For Sabalenka, 2021 was equally transformative as she reached her first Grand Slam semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. That year, they faced off for the first time, with Badosa winning their Cincinnati Open match in three sets and their WTA Finals encounter in straight sets. Despite these battles, their friendship had yet to develop.
The Emergence of Friendship
Their bond began at Indian Wells in 2022, during the Tie Break Tens exhibition event, where both players, then ranked inside the top 10, discovered their similar personalities.
“We realized we got along really well despite being so competitive,” Badosa shared on the Inside-In podcast. “Having a friend on tour is rare, and it means so much to me.”
Their friendship deepened as they partnered in doubles at multiple tournaments, including Stuttgart, Miami, and Madrid. Despite this camaraderie, their rivalry on court intensified, with Sabalenka earning her first victory against Badosa at the 2022 Stuttgart Open semi-final.
Renewed Rivalry
Sabalenka has dominated their recent matches, winning their last five encounters, including Miami, Stuttgart, and Roland Garros in 2024. Their rivalry has coincided with personal challenges, such as Sabalenka competing shortly after the death of her former partner and Badosa struggling with injuries.
Now both at the peak of their games, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sabalenka is aiming for her third consecutive Australian Open title, while Badosa aspires to join the ranks of Spanish Grand Slam champions.
While the match will be fiercely contested, their close friendship ensures a heartfelt embrace at the end
, regardless of the result.
