Australian Open 2025 results: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa to reach final and continue bid for third Melbourne title
Aryna Sabalenka will have the chance to become the first woman in 26 years to win three consecutive Australian Open titles with a victory over Paula Badosa in the Melbourne final.
Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, who described Badosa as her “soulmate”, recovered from an early defeat to win 6-4 6-2.
Badosa, playing her first Grand Slam semi-final, jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Spanish 11th seed won just four of his next 16 games.
Sabalenka, who will face either Iga Swiatek or Madison Keys in the final, aims to emulate Martina Hingis’ three-peat win from 1997-99.
This is the 20th consecutive victory for two-time defending champion Sabalenka at the Australian Open.
If Swiatek loses in the semifinals, she will remain No. 1 in the world; if the Pole advances, the winner of Saturday’s championship will take the top spot.
If Swiatek reaches the final with Sabalenka, it will be the first time since 2018 that the Australian Open women’s final features the top two seeds.
