The Spanish Paula Badosa He is on the verge of the most important moment of his career. This Thursday, in prime time and against the number one in the world and current champion, Aryna Sabalenkathe Catalan tennis player will look for a place in the final of the Australian Openin what promises to be an epic duel.
At 27 years old, Badosa, born in New York but raised in Spain, has proven to have the talent and determination to compete at the highest level. His career, marked by moments of glory and personal challengeshas led her to play her first semifinal in a Grand Slam tournament.
“I have never hidden, but My dream has always been to win a Grand Slam“, he stated with determination after his victory in the quarterfinals against one of the favorites in this edition Coco Gauff.
Paula Badosa, at the Australian Open 2025
EFE
The rebirth of Badosa
Paula Badosa’s career has not been easy. In 2023, a serious back injury suffered during the Rome tournament forced her to stay away from the courts for six months. That period was full of uncertainty and thoughts about possible retirement.
However, the Spanish tennis player found her turning point at that moment. Changes to your equipmenta innovative treatment for your ailment and a renewed focus on your mental health They marked the beginning of his resurgence.
The title won in Indian Wells WTA 1000 in 2021 It was the first great milestone of his career, to which three other circuit trophies were added. More recently, Badosa was crowned in Washingtonconsolidating his return to the elite of world tennis.
His performance in Australian Open It has been impeccable. He has defeated high-caliber rivals like the American Coco Gauffworld number three, in the quarterfinals, ending his opponent’s twelve-match winning streak.
This achievement has not only guaranteed her a place among the top ten in the ranking, but also places her as one of the main contenders for the title.
High voltage duel
The semi-final against Aryna Sabalenka It promises to be a clash of titans. The Belarusian, current tournament champion and world number one, arrives at the match in her best moment.
Sabalenka has shown impressive consistency and aggressiveness, as Badosa highlighted when talking about her next opponent: “Aryna is showing why she is number one, she is very consistent, aggressive and very intense“.
The history between both players favors Sabalenka, who has won five of the previous seven meetings. The most recent was at Roland Garros, where the Belarusian won with authority.
However, Paula Badosa has proven to be in her best physical and mental shape, and is determined to take advantage of this opportunity to make a statement. He mental work has been a fundamental pillar in the resurgence of the tennis player.
After a tough defeat at the US Open in September 2024, the Spaniard decided to rethink her approach and work intensely on her psychological strength. “I think almost all of us learn the hard way.. I took a very big hit at the US Open, but that made me sit down and say: I want to be there again,” he explained.
With the help of his psychologist, Badosa has incorporated techniques like visualization and meditation to your daily routinewhich has allowed him to remain calm and focused at crucial moments. This effort has clearly borne fruit in his performance in Melbourne, where he has demonstrated remarkable maturity and resilience.
Paula Badosa poses with Washington’s title.
EFE.
Date with history
The duel between Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka will open the women’s semifinal day of the Australian Open this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. local time in Melbourne (9:30 a.m. Spanish peninsular time).
The match will be followed by the confrontation between the Polish Iga Swiatek and the American Madison Keyscompleting a decisive day in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Regardless of the result, Badosa has already managed to establish herself as one of the best tennis players on the circuit. His rise in the ranking and his performance in the tournament are a testament to his talent and effort.
However, the Spanish is not satisfied with what has been achieved. His goal is clear: lift the Australian Open trophy and leave his mark on the history of tennis.
“In the final rounds my level rises, I want to be one hundred percent“, he stated with conviction. This Thursday, Badosa will have the opportunity to show that she is ready to fulfill her dream and establish herself as one of the greats of the sport.
The expectation is maximum. The showdown between Badosa and Sabalenka will not only decide who advances to the final, but it will also be a spectacle that no one will want to miss. History is at stake, and Paula Badosa is prepared to write it.