Sabalenka promises retail therapy to beaten opponent

Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday promised a full-on shopping trip to good friend and defeated opponent Paula Badosa after defeating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-2 to reach a third straight Australian Open final.

Sabalenka is within one victory of a title hat-trick after hammering her best friend in tennis, winning her 20th match in a row at the event.

But the winner is hoping to make even a few amends: “We’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever you want,” she announced in the Laver arena after victory in 87 minutes.

“We’ve spoken in the past and agreed that no matter what happens on court, we wlll still be friends after our matches.

“I think we’re doing that pretty well. I hope she is still my friend. She will hate me for a few hours, but that’s OK.”

The one-way victory sends the champion at the last two Melbourne editions into a Saturday final against the winner from second seed Iga Swiatek or outsider Madison Keys.

Sabalenka showed no mercy to Spanish mate Badosa, with her only tight moment coming as Badosa came within a point of a 3-0 lead in the opening set.

With that speed bump negotiated, Sabalenka got to work in snuffing out any hopes for Badosa, who suffered last season with serious back injury problems,

Sabalenka finished off her sixth win in eight matches against Badosa on her first of three match points with a forehand winner to the empty court.

“I have no idea how I turned it around,” Sabalenka said of the early stages when Badosa took command. 

“It was a super–tough match against a friend, It;s great to see her on her highest level again,” she said of the former world No. 2..

“I’m just so happy to be through this difficult match.”

if she wins the title on Saturday, Sabalenka would be the first to earn three in Melbourne since Martina Hingis more than a quarter-century ago.

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka in full flow during semi final win – by WTATennis.com