Aryna Sabalenka will not let her friendship with Paula Badosa affect her quest to win a third successive Australian Open title when the best friends clash in the semi-finals, the defending champion said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Spaniard will face two-time defending champion and best friend Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the final. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The world No. 3 missed the chance to return to the semifinal stage after an inspired performance from the former world No. 2

No. 11 seed Paula Badosa of Spain upset American Coco Gauff, the No. 3 seed, in straight sets at the Australian Open quarterfinals.

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.

Coco Gauff will take on Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, January 20.Gauff beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday in the Round of 16 in her most recent match.

Spanish Sensation knocks out the world No. 3 in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2025. Paula Badosa of Spain celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff of the US during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open | AP

In her last Grand Slam quarterfinal, the Spaniard imploded in New York. She is taking the lessons into her match with Gauff in Melbourne.

Friends will become rivals at the Australian Open on Thursday. For the eighth time in their careers – and the fourth time in the past 12 months – Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa will do battle on court.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff made a series of mistakes in her 5-7, 4-6 loss to Paula Badosa in the quarterfinal of the 2025 Australian Open on Tuesday.

America's Coco Gauff faces Spain's Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open tonight. Here's how to tune in.