In 2024, Aryna Sabalenka defeated the former world No. 2, 7-5, 6-1, at Roland Garros, putting aside her close connection with Paula Badosa.
This season, Sabalenka and Badosa have faced off three times, with the world No. 2 emerging victorious each time. She overcame a sluggish start to regain her best form, move on to the second week, and win a main-draw match for the tenth time in a row after an hour and seventeen minutes of play under the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof.
I simply made an effort to play well and battle for every point. After the game, Sabalenka said on the court, “I knew that the serve isn’t much of an advantage because of the tough conditions and that I could come back in this match.” “I was just trying to fight for every point and enjoy this incredible atmosphere!”
The much-awaited third-round match between the self-described “tour soulmates” looked to be dampened by more rain, but Sabadosa rose to the occasion on Saturday morning, playing some excellent tennis right away as Sabalenka started her quest to advance to the fourth round or better of a seventh consecutive major tournament.
“Having to play your best friend is difficult. She is a fantastic player who has recovered from an injury. She will definitely be back on top very soon, in my opinion. We’re good at keeping things apart; during the game, we’re opponents, and I’m trying to keep my eyes off the opposition, concentrate on myself, and play to the best of my abilities.”
The two-time Australian Open champion and Badosa became friends at the 2022 Tie Break Tens event, which was held in advance of the BNP Paribas Open. Since then, they have played doubles on the court and helped each other overcome numerous emotional and physical obstacles. After learning that her former partner Konstantin Koltsov had committed suicide during the Miami Open, Sabalenka faced Badosa for the first time. In April, Sabalenka consoled an injured Badosa at the conclusion of their Porsche Tennis Grand Prix match.
Badosa, who has been battling chronic back pain and disclosed that she had a second round of cortisone shots prior to Roland Garros, battled her way through to the third round, defeating two-time quarterfinalist Yulia Putintseva and No. 29 seed Katie Boulter. Badosa, a 2021 Paris quarterfinalist who will play mixed doubles with her partner Stefanos Tsitsipas, was eager to play Sabalenka again following the friend’s close loss in Stuttgart.
After seeing off Putintseva in three sets on Thursday, she remarked, “I think the last time it finished in a sad way, so I learned a lot from that match also.” “I believe it was excellent on both fronts. On Saturday, I know what I’m going to discover from her side. I understand how I need to counteract her. Thus, yes, I believe it will be enjoyable.
After defeating Erika Andreeva and Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets, Sabalenka had only dropped seven games. Since Stuttgart, she has only lost to Iga Swiatek once. Sabalenka also finished second to the world’s top player at the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The 2023 semifinalist broke Badosa to start the match, but the Spaniard quickly broke back and twice put the 2023 runner up a break of her open. This was her biggest test to date.
Sabalenka turned the tide of the match, leading by a set and two breaks, after Badosa appeared to be about to serve out a one-set advantage. Sabalenka won 12 of the next 16 points and seven straight games.
With a love hold, Badosa made her debut on the scoreboard, but Sabalenka remained unfazed, launching herself toward the finish line with power and variation at will. With some strong serving and well-placed forehands, Badosa was able to save all three of her match points when she was down three, but Sabalenka earned the fourth with an incredible drop shot, a move she has used effectively throughout the clay-court swing.
“When you have a lot of options, playing can often grow more complicated. You’re overanalyzing things! However, I wasn’t thinking too much today—instead, I was just enjoying the game. I was taking all of my shots because I trusted myself.”
After Badosa made one final backhand mistake, the two were once more pals.
After Sabalenka’s decisive victory, Badosa made one final backhand mistake, and the two reunited at the net, exchanging hugs.
Either No. 14 seed Madison Keys or No. 22 seed Emma Navarro, two talented Americans, will stand in Sabalenka’s way of making it back to the Roland Garros quarterfinals with their skills. Keys, who finished in the quarterfinals on the terre battue in 2018, is coming off a title run at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Prior to losing in three sets to Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals last summer, Keys was on the verge of defeating Sabalenka. In the meanwhile, two months ago at the BNP Paribas Open, Navarro won in three sets against Sabalenka.