Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka put her close friendship with Paula Badosa aside Thursday to sweep past the Spaniard into a third successive Australian Open final.
The Belarusian world No 1 came home 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena and will meet either Polish second seed Iga Swiatek or American 19th seed Madison Keys in Saturday’s decider.
The hard, fast courts of Melbourne Park have been the 26-year-old’s happy place.
She has now won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open to close in on a third consecutive crown – something that hasn’t happened this century.
The last person to achieve the feat was Martina Hingis in 1999 and only four other women have completed the three-peat – Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
“Super tough match against a friend,” she said. “Super happy to be through.”
Sabalenka last year described Badosa as her “best friend” and “soulmate”, but it was all business on a cool Melbourne evening.
The 11th seed Badosa stunned world No 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Slam semifinal at the age of 27 and came out swinging.
She gave Sabalenka a break point in the opening game on a double fault, but then nailed some big winners to save and hang on.
It was then the Belarusian turn to offer two break points to the Spaniard with some sloppy power shots and Badosa capitalised to open a 2-0 lead when a forehand sprayed wide.
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