We have reached the semi-finals stage in the women’s singles at the Australian Open with first and second seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek looking to secure a place in Saturday’s final.
Top-seed Sabalenka goes up against Paula Badosa as she continues her bid for a third successive title in Melbourne but faces a difficult assignment against the Spaniard, who knocked out Coco Gauff in the quarter-final.
Swiatek will look to maintain her ruthless form so far as she takes on American Madison Keys in the other semi-final.
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Friendship on hold as Sabalanka faces Badosa
World No1 Sabalenka is two matches away from defending her crown once again and has her close friend Badosa standing in her way.
The 26-year-old has already said she “can’t wait” to face the Spanish No11 seed, describing her before the tournament as a “soulmate”
She said: “I love Paula very much.
“She is an incredible person. It is very important to have friends on the circuit, so when you find someone who you feel is your soulmate, it is the best thing that can happen to you.”
While they may be friends off the court, it will be no easy afternoon for Sabalenka, with Badosa having dropped only one set so far in Melbourne.
Her latest victory was one of the most eye-catching of the tournament so far after knocking out third-seed and in-form American Gauff, who won the WTA Finals to end last season and then all five singles matches at the United Cup, including one against Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka came up against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals, which saw her drop her first set at the Austrlian Open since the 2023 final.
She battled through losing the second set to take control in the third and now awaits a much tougher test in the final four.
Former World No2 Badosa said of her close pal: “She is showing why she’s the number one in the world right now. She’s being very consistent, very aggressive. Very intense player. She’s always a really tough one to face.
“I faced her last year, but I think I was not in the form I am in now.”
Madison holds Keys to Swiatek’s final passage
Swiatek continues to shine ✨
Iga Swiatek has dropped just 14 games on her way to the semifinals! 😮#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/d5jks4PCnA
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025
Swiatek is still yet to put a foot wrong in Melbourne, most recently crushing eighth seed Emma Navarro 6-1 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.
She will now battle another American in Keys, who overhauled Elina Svitolina 3-6 6-3 6-4 in her quarter-final.
Second-seed Swiatek is a four-time French Open winner but is still chasing her first major success on Australian soil, with this her best campaign since also reaching the semi-final in 2022.
“I think Iga is tough to beat because she has a lot of spin kind of naturally on both sides. She is a good server. She’s a good returner. She moves incredibly well,” Keys said. “I think it is really hard to ever really get ahead in a point. I think …
“I think it is really hard to ever really get ahead in a point. I think for most of us out here, you are not really going to try to out-defend Iga. “So then there is just such a balance of being aggressive and trying to get her to move and going for…
“So then there is just such a balance of being aggressive and trying to get her to move and going for things, but not pressing too hard and not going for anything too quickly.”
Order of Play
Rod Laver Arena
From 730pm local time
(1) Arynas Sabalenka v (11) Paula Badosa
(2) Iga Swiatek v (19) Madison Keys
How to Watch
The Australian Open will be shown in the US on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Check the listings for start times.
Predictions
Arynas Sabalenka v Paula Badosa
Badosa is showing some of the best form since she was world No2 and looked assured when seeing off Gauff in the quarter-finals. But while she is looking strong, she will have to be at her very best to beat Sabalenka, who has made the Australian Open her home after winning her last 19 games in Melbourne.
Sabalenka to win in 3 sets
Iga Swiatek v Madison Keys
As faultless as Swiatek has been, Keys represents a huge step up after a relatively easy passage to this stage so far. The American is capable of matching her opponent from the baseline and her aggressive ball-striking could well prove an issue. if there is going to be an upset, it could well be here.
Keys to win in 3 sets
