Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survuved a scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets, while Coco Gauff’s winning run came to an end against Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Gauff, seeded third, arrived in Melbourne as the most in-form player on tour after winning the WTA Finals to end last season and then all five singles matches at the United Cup, including one against Iga Swiatek.
The American went into her last-eight tie with 11th seed Badosa on a 13-match winning streak but it was the Spaniard who came out on top in a 7-5 6-4 victory.
Badosa feared she may have to retire last year because of a persistent back problem but ended the season strongly, making the quarter-finals of the US Open, and has now hit a new high in Melbourne.
“Today I came in and I wanted to play my best game, and I think I did it,” she said. “Coco, at the beginning she was playing insane tennis, but I’m super proud of the level I gave today.
“A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport and now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals. I will never think that a year after I would be here.”
Both players held serve until 5-5 in the first set, when Badosa struck before opening up a 5-2 lead in the second set.
She was unable to serve it out at the first time of asking but made no mistake the second time around to set up a clash against top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka comes through Pavlyuchenkova test
Sabalenka survived dropping her first set in Melbourne since the 2023 final against Elena Rybakina as the two-time reigning champion ultimately came through 6-2 2-6 6-3 against Pavlyuchenkova.
After cruising through the opening set, Sabalenka looked in trouble as her serve was broken five-straight times by her 27th-seeded opponent as she dropped the second set and started the third sluggishly.
Crucially, Sabalenka was also able to break Pavlyuchenkova twice to start the deciding set, edging a tight second game that went to deuce three times, before moving ahead 3-2 as she rattled off eight points in a row.
Sabalenka looked the more assured of the two players from then on and, after claiming the decisive break of serve in the eighth game, served things out to reach the semi-finals in Australia once more.
“I was just praying today,” Sabalenka said after her win. “It was really difficult, she played amazing tennis, very aggressive. I’m just super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match.
“Sometimes it’s good to have these tough battles, to go through it, for the last stages of the tournament.
“I wish I would win this match in straight sets but it is how it is… I’m glad I’m in the semis and I can’t wait to play against Paula.”
Sabalenka is looking to become the first woman to win the Australian Open three years in a row since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. Pavlyuchenkova, meanwhile, falls to 1-8 for her career in Grand Slam quarter-finals, including 0-4 in Melbourne.