Sabalenka beats Badosa to make third straight Australian Open final

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (AFP): Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka put her close friendship with Paula Badosa aside Thursday to sweep past the Spaniard into a third successive Australian Open final and stay on track for a 26-year first.
The Belarusian world number one romped home 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena and will meet either Polish second seed Iga Swiatek or American 19th seed Madison Keys in Saturday's decider.
The hard, fast courts of Melbourne Park have been the 26-year-old's happy place.
She has now won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open to close in on a third consecutive crown -- something that hasn't happened this century.
The last person to achieve the feat was Martina Hingis in 1999 and only four other women have completed the three-peat -- Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm so proud of myself. I'm proud of my team that we're able to put ourselves in such a situation," Sabalenka said of being on the cusp of a third title.
"It's a privilege, you know. If I'm able to put my name into history, it will mean a lot. It will mean the world to me."
Sabalenka last year described Badosa as her "best friend" and "soulmate" and said she was "super happy" that they got to play each other on such a big stage.
"A tough match, tough battle," she said. "I hope she's still my friend. I'm sure she'll hate me for the next hour, day or two, but I'm okay with that, I can handle that.
"After that I think we are back to being friends, back to go out together and go shopping."
Despite their friendship it was all business on a cool Melbourne evening.
The 11th seed Badosa stunned world number three Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Slam semi-final at the age of 27 and came out swinging.