Aryna Sabalenka has a third successive Australian Open title in touching distance after steam-rolling through her semi-final against Spaniard Paula Badosa.
Bidding to become the first player since Martina Hingis to claim a three-peat of titles at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka lived up to her No.1 billing on Thursday night to post a 6-4 6-2 victory and book a spot in the final.
She will battle Madison Keys for the title, after the American saved a match point before upsetting second seed Iga Swiatek 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) in the second semi-final.
Swiss great Hingis claimed her triple title run from 1997-1999, while that honour roll call also includes the likes of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Margaret Court, who was watching from the front row in Rod Laver Arena.
“I have goosebumps, I’m so proud of myself. I’m proud of my team they’re able to put ourselves in such a situation,” 26-year-old Sabalenka said.
“It’s a privilege. If I’m able to put my name into history, it will mean a lot. It will mean the world to me.
“First I was dreaming to win at least one grand slam. Now I have this opportunity. It’s incredible. I’m going to go out and leave everything I have in the final.”
In the opening set Badosa broke the Belarusian to take a 2-0 lead and led 40-0 with Sabalenka making a slew of unforced errors.
But the champion battled through the eight-minute game to break her rival and never looked back.
It was expected 11th-seeded Badosa, who eliminated world No.3 Coco Gauff in straight sets in the quarter-finals, would put up more of a fight against her great friend after an impressive run through the tournament.
But the former world No.2, who slipped out of the top 100 early last year due to a debilitating back injury, was bereft of answers to tame the two-time defending champion.
Sabalenka, who has now won 20 consecutive matches at Melbourne Park, fired 32 winners to Badosa’s 11.
She didn’t drop a point in her final service game and blasted a forehand winner to wrap up the match in one hour and 26 minutes.
The top seed said it was tougher than it looked, particularly when she got off to a slow start against Badosa, who was playing in her first major semi-final.
“Somehow, I was able to turn the score in that crucial game,” she said.
“It was super tough match. Against my friend, I’m super happy for her, to see her at her highest level.
“Tough match and a super battle and happy to be through this difficult match.”
The pair shared a warm embrace at the net, and Sabalenka said she planned to treat her pal with her winnings.
“We both want it badly, it’s our dream. No matter what happens on the court, we’re going to be friends after, we agreed on that,” she said.
“I’m sure she hate me for the next, I don’t know, hour or day or two and after that I think we’re back to be friends.
“Back to go out together, shopping – I promise, we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants.”
