Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa embrace after their semi-final matchup Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa embrace after their semi-final matchup

Paula Badosa expects Aryna Sabalenka to push the boat out after the Belarusian offered her a shopping trip to apologise for ending her Australian Open hopes on Thursday. (Full Coverage | More Tennis News)manaloplay

Sabalenka is into a third straight final at the Melbourne Park slam after beating Badosa in straight sets in the last four, with Madison Keys awaiting her in Saturday's showpiece.

After a goalless first quarter, Korea struck just 36 seconds into the second quarter with Jungjun Lee finding the net due to a mistake from Pakistan goalkeeper Abdullah Ishtiyaq Khan. The goal remained the difference between the two teams till the half-time.

BY Outlook Sports Desk

The two-time defending champion could become just the sixth woman to win three straight Australian Open titles in the Open Era.

Martina Hingis (1997 to 1999), Margaret Court (1969 to 1971), Evonne Goolagong (1974 to 1976), Steffi Graf (1988 to 1990) and Monica Seles (1991 to 1993) are the only female players to have previously achieved that feat.

Sabalenka had to see off her close friend Badosa to return to the final, with the Spaniard saying after the match there was nothing she could do to counter the Belarusian's power.

We've all been there @Mastercard • #Priceless • #AusOpen • #AO2025 • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/gCFvA0djTd

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025

Speaking in her on-court interview after the match, Sabalenka said she would offer to take Badosa shopping by way of apology.

When asked what she would like Sabalenka to buy her in a post-match press conference, Badosa laughed: "Something really expensive then! 

omm slot

"It's got to be something really expensive because I think now she's doubled her prize money, so she won't have a problem with that!"

This was Badosa's best-ever run at a grand slammanaloplay, with the Spaniard having previously fallen in the quarter-finals at the 2021 French Open and last year's US Open.