Aryna Sabalenka will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The two-time defending champion’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park looked in serious danger when she lost the second set on a windy Rod Laver Arena.

Paula Badosa thought she might retire due to a back injury. A year later, she's in to the semifinals against close friend Aryna Sabalenka.

Paula Badosa has continued her resurgence here at the Australian Open, a dogged refusal to back down and take more seeds down, including Coco Gauff, in straight sets during the Quarter-Final match. Her shot selection was measured; she never gave up being consistent from the baseline and was also clutch on those return games in beating Gauff.

Sabalenka has won the last five meetings between these two good friends, but who will book her spot in the final?

Aryna Sabalenka is set to face her best friend Paula Badosa in the Australian Open semi-finals, aiming for a third consecutive title. Despite their friendship, Sabalenka is determined to maintain her competitive edge and join an elite group of players who have achieved consecutive wins.

Paula Badosa beats Coco Gauff to reach Australian Open semi-finals; defending-champion Aryna Sabalenka survives scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets; watch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis,

The first matches of Day 12 of the Melbourne Major begin at 11.30 am local time on the Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, while those on Kia Arena, John Cain Arena, and other courts commence at 11 am. The evening session on the Rod Laver Arena, when the singles semifinals will be played, begins at 7.30 pm local time.

Delray Beach's Coco Gauff was eliminated from the Australian Open Tuesday, losing in straight sets to Spain's Paula Badosa. The third-seeded Gauff, who had been playing well since the end of the year, fell 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at Rod Laver Arena.

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa will square off for the eighth time in the 2025 Australian Open semifinals. Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 5-2; Badosa posted wins at Cincinnati 2021 and the WTA Finals Guadalajara 2021,

Paula Badosa ended Coco Gauff's winning run to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open after recording a 7-5 6-4 victory.

Paula Badosa stuns Coco Gauff at the Australian Open to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final - just one year after fearing she would have to retire.