How Aryna Sabalenka plans to win back bestie Paula Badosa after thrashing her in straight sets to make the Australian Open final
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Aryna Sabalenka promised to take her close friend Paula Badosa shopping and said she would buy the Spaniard 'whatever she wanted' on Thursday night. It came after the Belarusian star secured a straight-sets victory over the Spaniard, to book her place in the finals of the women's singles at the Australian Open.
![[Sabalenka smashed her way to a two-set victory over her good friend but revealed that she would attempt to win Badosa back by taking her out shopping]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/15/94428085-14317735-image-a-61_1737645517793.jpg)
The pair have previously called each other 'soulmates' and tonight had to put their friendship aside to do battle on the court. Ultimately, it was the two-time Australian Open champion who came through as the victor, and while admitting it was emotionally 'tough' to do battle against her friend, Sabalenka opened up on how the pair had approached the match.
![[While Badosa had cut a deflated figure after the match, Sabalenka arrived back stage and the pair were seen laughing and sharing a smile]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/15/94428083-14317735-image-a-62_1737645524506.jpg)
'I think after a couple of battles against each other, we spoke and we decided to put it aside,' Sabalenka said. 'We both wanted it badly. It's our dream. But here we're just opponents. No matter what happens on the court, we're going to be friends after our matches.
![[Badosa has fought back from a horror back injury over the past two years to reach her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/15/94430601-14317735-image-a-59_1737645383363.jpg)
Aryna Sabalenka promised Paula Badosa that she would take her shopping after beating her good friend in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday. Sabalenka smashed her way to a two-set victory over her good friend but revealed that she would attempt to win Badosa back by taking her out shopping.
![[And she joked that she would make Sabalenka buy her something 'really expensive']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/15/94391885-14317735-But_Badosa_faces_a_tough_test_as_she_goes_up_against_her_soulmat-a-63_1737645711943.jpg)
While Badosa had cut a deflated figure after the match, Sabalenka arrived back stage and the pair were seen laughing and sharing a smile. 'It is tough to do but we agree well, I don't know. 'I hope she's still my friend...' She said as the crowd laughed.
![[Badosa admitted her pride at how far she has come in the last few years, adding that she was happy to lose against someone like Sabalenka]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/15/94427977-14317735-image-a-64_1737645766340.jpg)
