Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 with a impressive display of raw power to reach her third successive Australian Open final on Thursday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was there for Paula Badosa after the Spaniard suffered a heartbreaking Australian Open loss, telling his girlfriend that she is a winner in both tennis and life. On Thursday, the Spanish tennis star appeared in her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Top seed Sabalenka proved to be at another level, though, racking up 32 winners for the match to leave Badosa chasing shadows under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.

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 and stay on track for a 26-year first.

As Paula Badosa watched Aryna Sabalenka winners whizzing by her from all angles, it was game over for the Spaniard in the Australian Open semi-finals as she fell to an inspired opponent producing “PlayStation” tennis.

Coco Gauff's unbeaten start to 2025 is over. So are her hopes of winning the Australian Open. The third-seeded Gauff, 9-0 on the year and unbeaten in 13 straight matches entering the day, was swept by 11th-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Aryna Sabalenka overcame a sluggish start in the semifinal match as she beat Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2, thus putting an end to her dream run in Melbourne.

Aryna Sabalenka moved one win away from becoming the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, recovering from a slow start to beat good friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 Thursday night and return to the final.

Aryna Sabalenka moved one win away from becoming the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, recovering from a slow start to beat good friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 and return to the final.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during her semifinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo ...

Aryna Sabalenka now stands just a win away from becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to pull off a three-peat at Melbourne Park.