hope

Europe has hope placed in the electric car of 25,000 euros and Volkswagen already knows who will manufacture it: Spain

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Volkswagen ID. Polo, Raval Cupra, Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID. Cross. Those are all the cars that Volkwagen has commissioned Spain. The company has commissioned the bulk of its urban vehicles to our country. It will do it with four cars that will be key, for better or worse, in the medium -term company strategy. Confirmation. It will be in Martorell, Barcelona (Volkswagen ID.P Polo and Cupra Raval), and in Landaben, Navarra (Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID.cross) where the Volkswagen group will manufacture its smallest electric. The company has confirmed it at the IAA Mobilitythe Münich hall focused on electric vehicles. It will be its four electric cars that will fly over 25,000 euros. That is to say, The “affordable” offer The group will be manufactured in Spain, a strategy that we already sensed partially but that was about to be confirmed. 25,000 euros electric car hub. The arrival of these four models to our country is, on paper, great news for the company’s workers. Martorell has long been positioned as the central nucleus of the strategy, with A battery plant “by your side”its projection as Component supplier And, now, with the two cars awarded. Landaben takes another very important pinch. The Volkswagen ID. Cross, which is just a concept, will be one of the company’s great assets in the segment. The Volkswagen T-Cross promises to be one of the most important electric/medium term electric. The EPIQ will be the “affordable” option. In addition, in both cases the SUV body fits perfectly into the electric car since it is the body preferred by the public and facilitates to fit greater battery capacity in the car without sacrificing the space. Investment. In your event, Volkswagen has pointed out that a total of 10,000 million euros will be invested. 70% will be in charge of the company that are divided into the electrification of the Barcelona plant (3,000 million euros), Navarra (1,000 million euros) and the 3,000 million euros of the Sagunto plant. The remaining 3,000 million euros correspond, according to the company, with the investments of the auxiliary companies to mount these cars. Key models. Spain has become a key region for the future of the company. Right now, it has four of the models that aspire to generate a qualitative leap in sales within the German group and the plant that will produce the batteries for all of them. The sale of these cars is especially relevant because in 2027 manufacturers have to Place below 93.6 gr/km of CO2 in the average emissions of the cars that have sold. The figure is already hard and needs the sale of large volumes of electricity but it will be Much more in 2030 When that maximum figure is reduced in half. If the political plans are maintained, the cars that occur in Spain should despite substantially in the company’s results accounts Volkswagen is interested in prioritizing the sale of these cars that, by price, should be easier to sell. The risk. The other face of the currency is evident: that cars are not sold. Although manufacturers are obliged to press in this market (due They present obvious inconveniences when they are taken out of the city. Right now, that electric, cheap and “for everything” car or that allows “anywhere” even with space limitations does not exist. That role played by the Seat Ibizato give an example, it is in danger of extinction if the manufacturer does not opt ​​for a substantial electrification of mechanics. Spain, leader. Spain has managed to find its hole in the electric car market. Although has been threatened by brands (and in fact it is made) it will be taken to take some of the cheapest electric to countries with less expensive labor, such as Morocco, Spain has managed to offer itself as an attractive country to produce cars with the lowest profit margin. Volkswagen’s bet is not alone. Stellantis will also produce its smallest models in Spain. Vigo and Zaragoza will be key in the production of smaller cars, the mounts About the Stla Small platform. It is a battle that has earned France or Germany whose operational costs are higher and need to produce higher costs (and less volume) to justify its production. Photo | Volkswagen In Xataka | If the question is if the cars were “cheaper” regarding your salary in 1975 than now, we have made accounts

This company is China’s great hope to definitely dispense with Nvidia chips

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In China there are dozens of companies that are dedicated to the design of GPU for applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Stepfun, which belongs to Tencent Holdings; Infinigence ai; Siliconflow, from Huawei; Metax; Biren Technology; Focus me; Iluvatar Corex or Moore Threads They are some of the most important. However, currently One shines more than the others. In fact, as we have anticipated from the head of this article, this company is the best China asset when dispensing with the Nvidia chips. Although it is not as well known as Huawei or Moore Threads, Cambricon Technologies is one of the companies specialized in the design of GPU for AI with greater growth potential. In fact, he has received the approval of the Shanghai bag (China) to raise 560 million dollars. Will allocate them to the design of four chips for training and inference of AI models, and also to the development of an alternative to CUDAfrom Nvidia. To this company everything seems to be going well. And is that during the last twelve months The value of its actions has tripled. The strategic role of AI for China in its technological and commercial war with the US supports Chinese companies dedicated to the hardware design for AI and the development of large language models. However, there is more than promises to boost the business not only of Cambricon Technologies, but also that of the other Chinese companies that design integrated circuits for AI: the Chinese government has decided to force the data centers that belong to the State throughout the country To use at least 50% of Chinese integrated circuits on their servers. Cambricon Technologies is not an emerging company like the others China needs talent to compete with the US on equal terms and knows where you should look for it: in its population. In fact, the Administration has encouraged the implementation of elite educational centers that receive the best students in the country with open arms. The Chen brothers were two of them. Today are the founders and maximums responsible for Cambricon Technologies. The first, Chen Tianshi, exercises as president and general director of this company specialized in chip design for AI applications. And the second, Chen Yunji, is an expert in the development of processors for neural networks that, as far as we know, exercises as an advisor and responsible for technology in Cambricon. Both formed in An elite program for young talents In the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and currently the two are researchers and professors in this educational institution. Your best asset is its complementarity. Tianshi is an expert in chips design, and Yunji in AI. Chen Tianshi and Chen Yunji obtained their doctorates in computer science at age 24 Together they created a project at the Chinese Academy of Sciences that pursued a processor specialized in deep learning. Their plan went well and that chip allowed them to found their company. Their curriculum supports them, and there is no doubt that their effort has helped them reach the position in which they are. In fact, both obtained their doctorates in computer science at age 24. However, Cambricon is not a traditional emerging company. The growth of which we have spoken a few lines above and the expectations it has raised have been led by the support of the Chinese government, which sees in this company the opportunity to achieve the technological self -sufficiency it needs. During the last three years Huawei has established himself as one of the main Chinese GPU designers for AI, but Cambricon has something that this giant does not count at the moment: he combines a very ambitious hardware and A constant software platform improves. Huawei Ascend family chips are very competitive, and also has Cann (Compute Architecture for Neural Networks), what is Your alternative to Cudabut Cambricon is demonstrating that he has the ability to adapt its Neuware software very quickly to the needs of its customers. And in a market in which CUDA governs with iron fist It is a very important asset. Currently the flagship products that have changed to compete with Nvidia and Huawei in the Chinese market are the MLU series (Machine Learning Unit) and yes. In fact, the expectations of the Chinese semiconductor industry defend that the GPU Siyuan 690 will have comparable performance to the chip NVIDIA H100. In addition, Cambricon guarantees that their products are compatible with the models of the leaders in China, such as Deepseek, Qwen de Alibaba or Hunyuan de Tencent, among others, which has allowed it Gain the confidence of the Chinese industry. If we add that, According to Financial Timesfor developers it is easier to use neuware that Cann is reasonable to anticipate that during the next months Cambricon will monopolize the attention of the technology industry. Image | Cambricon Technologies In Xataka | Nvidia has to deal with the absolute distrust of several US legislators. His plan in China is in danger In Xataka | The US wants to end the chips for the Chinese that are sold abroad. And China knows how to defend oneself

The iPhone of the lipsticks is from Louis Vuitton and hope to sell them as churros: “Customers are excited”

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The luxury market is going through one of its worst Financial crisis due to Strong sales adjustment behind him boom of sales that luxury brands experienced after the pandemic. Bernard Arnault has devised a master play to try redirect the bassist situation of LVMH and attract the interest of the wealthiest clients: a new luxury makeup range in which a scented lipstick will cost about 160 dollars. They hope to sell it as churros. Landing in luxury cosmetics. Louis Vuitton gets fully into the world of high -end makeup with the launch of Beautéa range that includes 55 tones of lipstick, in addition to balms, eye shadow palettes and a series of skin accessories to wrap them with monogram design seal. It is no accident that Louis Vuitton has chosen that they are 55 tones: 55 in Roman numbers is LV. Beyond the tonal ranges and glamor of the packagingFrom the first range of makeup of Louis Vuitton, the most attracts attention are its prices. A single lipstick will cost $ 160, $ 250 for a palette of eye shadows. The most faithful to the brand, in addition, can Complete your accessories With a mini trunk to save the lipsticks, stamped with the monogram design for 2,500 euros or a bag to carry the lipstick for $ 390. A high price as a strategy. Not everyone can pay 160 dollars for a lipstick so LVMH’s strategy is hitting the table to, such and As I recognized Pauline Brown, president of LVMH for North America to Yahoo Finance, strengthening her leadership. “There is practically no market for a 160 -dollar lipstick. Therefore, I think this was a strategic play to try to strengthen its position and leadership in the luxury market.” If we compare it with the products offered by its main rivals. A Dior lipstick, for example, costs about 47 dollars, Hermès lipsticks about $ 80, while one of Peau Beauté Clé It is sold for $ 113. This approach seeks to strengthen exclusivity for the Ultralujo buyer, not for the aspirational client. It is the same strategy that the brand has used in its leather and fashion products, which they have achieved endure the generalized downward trendin the face of the results that presented luxury brands, Like Burberrythat they had opened their catalog to more affordable products. Debate about the unattainable strategy. The luxury products They are not based on a rational criterion, but on feelings and perceptions. So it is difficult to advance whether the new range of luxury products will be a success or not. According to The report “The State of Fashion: Beauty V.2 ” Prepared by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey, 63 % of consumers do not consider that premium brands have higher quality than the most affordable brands, and 24 % of those customers have opted for cheaper products in the last 12 months. However, such and as they highlight in The Business of Fashionin the face of this practical vision, there is the purchase decision based on brand perception. Marigay McKee, co -founder of the Incubator of Violet Lab Beauty brands and former sales of Harrods and Saks Fifth Avenue assured that: “Vuitton has waited so long to offer cosmetics that customers are excited … the legacy is there. But the quality has to be present, not just the aesthetics.” Louis Vuitton and Apple. Cécile Cabanis, Financial Director of LVMH, assuredIn one of his latest presentations that “Vuitton’s strategy focuses on always offering the most sophisticated and higher quality product to retain the most important customers and get some others in the upper segment. So the goal is to continue recruiting the youngest generationand that is not about selling at low prices or making cheap products, but also using the vuitton’s DNA, DNA and attractiveness and replicating it in more accessible categories. “ In that context, Louis Vuitton’s strategy with this new product line is very close to what historically He has offered Apple In technology: a product with high quality perception, at a high price that reinforces the concept of “products value” above its price. Quality must be demonstrated. The presence of Pat McGrathone of the most influential makeup artists in the world at the head of the cosmetics of Louis Vuitton, guarantees that the collection is relevant for both the industry and for the most demanding consumers. Marigay McKee rememberthat the success of the new line is conditioned to its quality. “Louis Vuitton faces the experience of the best makeup artists in the world. There are those who pay for the brand image, but it cannot only be exaggerated advertising. The product has to live up to expectations, or will only have good sales in the launch”, but will not be able to maintain those sales for a long time. The cosmetics sector is very lucrative. While it is true that LVMH already has cosmetics specialized marks as Sephora, the global makeup market is so lucrative that it is tempting not to enter it with a high -end proposal. According to data published by Fashionunitedthe cosmetics market reached 43.6 billion dollars in 2024 and could touch the 46,000 million at the end of 2025. The projections by 2034 are even better. That is why, in his search for new folders for the luxury sector, Louis Vuitton will not miss the opportunity to open a hole in This expanding market. Maybe it starts like a 160 -dollar lip bar and then present more competitive ranges. It is the same as Apple with its most top iPhone, and then present The iPhone se or the Recent iPhone 16E. In Xataka | The new whim for Millionaires of Louis Vuitton recovers a concept of the nineteenth century: carry a bed in a trunk Image | Louis Vuitton

What do we hope to see in the most “ultra” event of summer

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It is official. Samsung will present new devices from his Galaxy family on July 9. The company He has revealed the date of his next UNPACKEDwith a word as the protagonist: Ultra. This surname, historically reserved for his Galaxy S family, aims to land in a segment that until now seemed premium enough: the folding. This is all we hope to see in the next event of the South Korean giant. When and where. July 9, Wednesday, at 4:00 p.m. Spanish peninsular. Through the Official Samsung page and his Official YouTube channelwe can continue live the presentation event of the new devices of his Galaxy family. The event will be held in Brooklyn, United States, and will be broadcast in streaming so you can follow it from anywhere in the world, as usual in the company’s events. What is expected. From a while to this part Samsung invites us to celebrate two unpacked events. The first, at the beginning of the year, is the launch of its Galaxy s. The second is reserved to announce folding mobiles. Announced the Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z fold6 Last summer, we expect a renewal of both models: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 (Ultra?) Accompanying them, although with doubts on the horizon, we may have News about One UI 8. The key is that Samsung wanted Chivar that something in the event will be … The great track that Samsung gives: a much thinner galaxy z fold. Ultra. The company has not officially confirmed the Samsung Galaxy Z fold7 ultrabut it is an open secret. Samsung is expected to take a jump with its folding mobiles and take them to the level of its range S ultra. Until now, the Z Fold and Z Flip have always had photographic systems below their brothers S. This may change this generation … or not. At the moment, the only thing we think is that the Z FOLD7 will be much thinner, as the company has seen. There is no news about the possible price increase that would lead to making a relevant leap in Specs on devices that were already premium. Taking into account that folding mobiles are a niche product, it is not something especially relevant. Samsung needs to keep your crown. Until recently, Samsung had barely competition in folding. But now they compete giants such as Xiaomi, Motorola, Huawei and Honor, with a view to applying their first folding in 2026. The data speak for themselves: Samsung’s growth in folding is being negativeand the thrust of Huawei in China has led him to snatch the crown. Samsung’s philosophy with its folding has been to launch a refined and continuous product, but its rivals begin to push it by overcoming it in basic aspects such as that of the folding or external screen itself. A thrust product. In a more global view, Samsung remains undisputed leader in smartphone territory, But its growth is very, very content. A global 1% year -on -year at the close of the first quarter of 2025, compared to 13% of Apple, 3% of Xiaomi and 7% live. The market barely grows and will continue to be according to predictions, but Samsung is still searching for that disruptive mobile that helps boost sales, such as showed with the Galaxy S25 Edge. Image | Samsung is committed to fighting with nails and teeth the most powerful mobile chip race. The perfect candidate finally has

Wallbox was the Milmillonaria hope of Spain to conquer electric loaders. Now it is sunk

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Wallbox was born with – loved – unicorn aspirations: an industrial technological, with Spanish capital, quoting in New York, and selling loaders for electric cars to the world. Today is less than its debt, it has fired a third of its template and struggle not to be expelled from the parquet. He is desperately looking for financial oxygen and industrial credibility, but he has not yet found either one or the other. What has happened. Wallbox 3,000 million dollars came to asserttoday its capitalization is around 95 million. The reasons: Constant losses. 112 million in 2023, 152 million in 2024. Stock market collapse. Your action It has fallen more than 95% since its debut. The NYSE Warning. It has been quoting below the dollar. Cuts. Mass layoffsplant closures and cost reduction. Key directors output. A few days ago, Justin Mirro and Paolo Campinoti They presented their resignation. Between bambalins. Wallbox has not stopped capturing money in recent years. Since 2021 he has accumulated more than 370 million in rounds, with Members such as Iberdrola, Generac, Riberas or the Puig family in capital. But your business model is still unburgated. Now has hired Houlihan Lokey to restructure debt and capital to avoid collapse. It is not yet known if that will sell assets, incorporate a new investor or more drastic movement. Yes, but. Although Wallbox has improved margins, reduced operational losses And it has grown in the United States, still without a clear profitability horizon. Says that it is close to Break Even (match income and expenses) in adjusted Ebitda, but has also admitted that the losses will continue. And the most worrying: You will need more capitalbut he has already burned a lot. In figures. In 2024 … 164 million in revenues. 152 million in losses. 300 dismissed employees (35% of the workforce). Almost 200 million of living debt. 95 million in stock capitalization dollar. $ 0.30 is the current price of your share. The context. With the sales of the electric car growing somewhat slower than expected, the startups of the sector have run out of the fundamental ingredient of their road map. And many have stayed on the road. Arrival, Proterraeither Lordstown Motors They are broken or suspended. Nikola continues to operate with a value 99% lower than that of its peak. All have something in common: promising products and a powerful narrative, but hardly sustainable business models if their environment does not grow rapidly. Between the lines. The problem is not electrification, but the calendar. The startups bet everything at “when” and not “yes.” And that “when” has been delayed. Wallbox had deployed factories in Texas, Germany and China with the expectation of a demand that has not yet arrived. And this not only affects Wallbox. The Spanish case is representative of a kind of industrial bubble: public and private investment aligned, but based on projections that are not consolidated. In Xataka | Selling a second -hand electric car is a very bad idea. Unless your car is an xiaomi su7 Outstanding image | Wallbox

Japan’s only hope to dominate the chips industry is an unknown: Rapidus

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The Taiwanese company TSMC and South Korean Samsung are the two semiconductor manufacturers that have the most advanced integration technologies in production. In fact, both manufacture Integrated 3 Nm circuits Since 2022. However, for many months The performance by wafer They obtained was very improvable, which transformed their nodes of 3 Nm into a bottleneck that perceptibly increased the cost of these chips. Three years later the 3 Nm nodes of these two companies are much finer. His performance by wafer has increased perceptibly and presumably is already exceeding 70% established by the semiconductor industry as a reference. Currently these two companies are in a relatively comfortable position, but there is a company that seems to be prepared to disturb them. To them already intel. His name is Rapidus corporation, he is Japanese and plans to manufacture 2 Nm semiconductors with an unpublished technology and unbeatable mate performance. Rapidus is the spearhead of Japan In 1988 NEC, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Matsushita and other Japanese companies hoarded nothing less than 50% of the chips industry. However, today none of these companies is positioned among the leaders of a sector dominated with iron fist by Taiwanese, American, Dutch, South Korean and German companies. Whatever the government of Japan is determined to recover its ancient glory. The administration led by Shigeru ishiba claims the preeminent position he had in the semiconductor industry three decades ago. Its economy is at stake. But it has a plan. And it is already underway. In fact, he began to display his strategy to reinforce his integrated circuit industry more than two years ago, so the first results begin to see the light. Japan is currently investing more money in its integrated circuits sector than the US, Germany, France or the United Kingdom Japan is currently investing more money in its sector of integrated circuits than the US, Germany, France or the United Kingdom. Not in terms of net value, but its effort is greater if we weigh the investment of these countries on their gross domestic product (GDP). The US dedicates 0.21% of its GDP to its semiconductor industry, and Germany 0.41%. France, according to Nikkei Asia0.2%, and, finally, the United Kingdom 0.04%. The difference is very significant and puts on the table the effort that Japan is making with 0.71% of its GDP. As expected, Japanese companies have a leading role in the reconstruction plan of the Japanese chips industry. Tokyo Electron, Canon and Nikon are the main designers and manufacturers of integrated circuit production equipment. AND JSR Corporation leads the production of photorestoning materials. Curiously, it is necessary to pour these fluids on silicon wafers with the purpose of preparing them for the transfer of the geometric pattern that delimits the distribution of transistors, connections and other elements that make up an integrated circuit. The surprising thing is that, in reality, none of the companies I just mentioned is the best trick of Japan to catapult the competitiveness of its semiconductor industry. Not even JSR, which, as we have just seen, leads the manufacture of photorers. The company that is intended for compete from you to you With TSMC, Intel or Samsung in the chip production market is Rapidus corporation. In fact, it has been expressly created to replace Japan at the forefront of integrated circuits. This company’s website explains the background that has triggered its constitution and its purposes in The following six “commandments”: The importance of semiconductors has increased, and, at the same time, the growing concern for the decline of the chips industry in Japan has done so. The role of semiconductors in economic security has become an urgent matter. Many integrated circuit factories are located in Taiwan and Continental China. Given the increase in the use of semiconductors in cars and artificial intelligence, as well as the added value of the chips in the devices that will arrive during the next decade, it is necessary to guarantee manufacturing in Japan. After the summit between Japan and the US, both countries are developing next -generation semiconductors. It is necessary to establish 3D LSI technology (Large Scale Integration o large -scale integration) next -generation and Nanosheet Gaa (Gate-alall-around) in collaboration with the US and Europe, as well as build a cooperation framework with the manufacturers of materials and equipment in Japan and abroad. Our purpose is to establish an integrated circuit factory of 2 Nm avant -garde in Japan. The first four precepts recognize to what extent Japan has lost the relevance that had decades ago in the chips industry and support the need for rebuild a sector which currently has a strategic role. And the last two slogans outline the objective of Rapidus in the short and medium term, which goes through competing in The incipient market of 2 nm semiconductors in which this year TSMC, Intel and Samsung will enter. Rapidus is making a circuit manufacturing plant integrated in northern Japan in which it plans to produce 2 Nm chips Rapidus is a very young company. It was founded on August 10, 2022 by the Japanese government with an initial capital of 7,346 million yen (just under 46 million euros) contributed by, and here comes the interesting, Sony, Toyota, Nec, Softbank, Kioxia, dense , Nippon Telegraph and MUFG Bank. The initial capital invested in the constitution of this company is not very bulky, but there is no doubt that the companies that participate in it have an indisputable relevance in the sectors of technology, automotive and telecommunications. Rapidus is currently putting a circuit manufacturing plant integrated in northern Japan, in the city of Chitose (Hokkaido), in which it plans to produce semiconductors of 2 Nm. According to Nikkei Asia The first prototypes of these chips They will be ready in April 2025but large -scale manufacturing will not arrive at best until 2027. So far there is nothing really surprising because presumably at that time TSMC, Samsung and Intel will already be manufacturing integrated circuits with comparable lithographs. Rapidus’s competitiveness … Read more

The new hope against Alzheimer’s is a simple protein. We have discovered it thanks to a tiny worm

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Many of the processes that happen in our body depend on proteins. All if we take into account the processes that do it indirectly. Sometimes proteins fail. Then, the function of cleaning these “defective” proteins falls, yes, on other proteins. MANF. A new study He has revealed The importance of MANF protein (Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derned Neurotrophic Factor) For our aging or, to be more precise, when avoiding some of the problems that arise at the cellular level and that we usually associate with age. Doing cleaning. In principle, that a cell badly codifies a protein does not have to generate major problems in our body. Cell homeostasis, the process that discards proteins after use, is a cellular “maintenance” process that deals with this type of problem. However, with age our cells lose efficacy when keeping the house in order. “Defective” proteins can end up accumulating and generating protein clots. This is What we believe occurs with diseases such as Parkinson or Alzheimer’s. When the cell detects these problems, it can stop synthesizing new proteins until the problem is solved. If it does not, the cell dies. Cleaning work. The new study has observed that MANF protein It plays an important role in this cleaning process inside the cell. His work consists in breaking protein clusters to facilitate the expulsion of these and thus maintaining our healthy cells. The team observed that this protein also served to “activate” the intracellular cleaning system. C. Elegans. In his work, the team turned to a unique worm, the Caenorhabditis Elegansa usual microscopic size nematode in laboratories around the world. The team altered the genetics of these worms to increase the presence of the MANF protein in their cells. The worms C. Elegans They are transparent, which facilitates the work of researchers when visualizing the changes that induce their genes. The team managed to see the effects of MANF on cells and tissues. Protein, They pointwas present in the lysosomas (some cell organelles linked to longevity and protein aggregation). In this way they could appreciate how the protein broke cell clusters and activated the cleaning system. The details of the experiment were published In an article In the magazine Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Beyond worms. What is true for the biology of a small worm does not have to be in that of humans, but the team points out that this would be a universal process, at least in animal cells since Manf is a common protein to all species of this kingdom. The fight against Alzheimer’s. The big issue is now how to transform this new knowledge into therapies to fight some of the diseases that we associate with aging, such as Alzheimer’s, or against aging itself. Alzheimer is an important since the dominant hypothesis to explain this disease part precisely of the appearance of intracellular clusters such as those that fight the Manf protein. As explained by those responsible for the new study, transforming this protein into a treatment will require better understanding its role in our body and other possible interactions between it and cellular functions beyond cell homeostasis. In Xataka | We have been listening to the benefits of Omega-3 for years. Now we know that it also rejuvenates us Image | McMaster University

“I hope she continues to be my friend and if she wants…”

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The recent semi-final of Australian Open witnessed an exciting confrontation between Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa. The Belarusian tennis player, world number one, managed to beat the Spanish player with a score of 6-4 and 6-2 in one hour and 26 minutes of play. This victory assured Sabalenka a place in her third consecutive final of the tournament and a £1.7 million reward. However, what captured fans’ attention was not just the skill on the court, but the gesture friendly from Sabalenka towards Badosa after the game. The two tennis players, known for their closeness off the court, have shown that competition is not at odds with friendship. Sabalenka, aware of the harshness of the defeat for her friend, promised to bring Paula Badosa shopping as a way apology for having eliminated her from the tournament. Aryna Sabalenka after beating Paula Badosa and reaching the final of the Australian Open: 🗣 “I hope she continues to be my friend. I promise we will go shopping and I will pay you whatever you want” 😂 pic.twitter.com/u70FqAwsKy — Tennis Time (@Tiempodetenis1) January 23, 2025 “I hope she continues to be my friend. I’m sure you’ll hate me for the next few hours and days, but I can handle it.“said Sabalenka in a post-match interview. “After that, I think we will be friends again, we will go out together, shopping… I promise Paula that we will go shopping and I will pay for whatever she wants,” Sabalenka added, showing her more generous side. The relationship between the two tennis players is a clear example of how competition and friendship can coexist, even at the highest levels of the sport. Sabalenka also shared her plans to prepare for the final. “It’s about having fun the next day and putting tennis aside. Of course, I’m going to practice a little, but for the rest of the day I’ll leave tennis aside. Go shopping with Paula? Maybe, I hope he’s still here and we can go shopping. But I’ll set a limit because she can go crazy.“, joked the Belarusian. For her part, Badosa accepted the gift and the proposal to go shopping together and laughingly acknowledged at a press conference that she would buy “something very expensive” at the expense of Sabalenka’s pocket. A special relationship This closeness and sense of humor highlight the particular dynamic between Sabalenka and Badosa. Despite being rivals on the field, they have decided to keep their friendship intact, an agreement that they have reinforced through several sporting battles. “I think after a couple of battles between us, we talked and decided to put it aside. She really wanted it, we both wanted it, it’s our dream. Here we are opponents and no matter what happens on the court, we are going to be friends after our games. It’s hard to do, but we’ve agreed“Sabalenka explained. The hug between Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa after the semifinals of the Australian Open 2025 Reuters Now, Sabalenka has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first female player since Martina Hingis in 1997-1999 to win the Australian Open women’s singles title three consecutive times. “Just saying that and I get chills. Honestly, I’m so proud of myself and my team for putting us in this situation. It’s a privilege. If I can put myself in the history books, it will mean a lot. At first I dreamed of winning a Grand Slam, now it’s incredible. “I’m going to go out and give everything I have in the final,” Sabalenka concluded. This friendly gesture from Sabalenka towards Badosa underlines the importance of sportsmanship and friendship in sport, reminding us that, at the end of the day, personal relationships can prevail over competition.

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