By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday 23 January 2025
Shop till you drop. This could very well be the mantra of Paula Badosa next time she hangs out with her friend Aryna Sabalenka.
The pair shared the court on Thursday night at Rod Laver Arena, with Sabalenka recording her sixth straight victory over the Spaniard, 64, 6-2.
After the victory, in a loving moment, Sabalenka promised him that he would go shopping in Badosa and buy him whatever he wanted.
“I hope she’s still my friend,” Sabalenka joked, before saying, “I promise Paula, we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants,” Sabalenka told the crowd.
The best go shopping 🛍️We hope you keep @SabalenkaA to this @paulabadosa 😂#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/3BtV00KC37
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Badosa, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in Melbourne this week, says she is more than happy to take her friend up on that offer.
“It’s going to be something very expensive because now I think she doubled the prize money,” Badosa said. “So I think she won’t have a problem (with) that. I’ll think about it.”
For her victory, Sabalenka earned an additional A$800,000 (about US$501,000).
Sabalenka “Playing as No. 1
Badosa had nothing but praise for Sabalenka’s quality of play on Thursday night.
“Aryna’s level today, she played like a number 1. I couldn’t do more today,” said Badosa. “She played the best match of the week. From the last few months, for sure. If she plays like this, I mean, we can give her the trophy already.”
Asked to elaborate on what it means to play as No.1, she said:
“When you are aggressive. When you go for the lines. When you change directions. When a ball is coming hard at you, but you are able to change directions very easily. You are fast. You are serving well.
“You do everything well. That’s how a No. 1 plays. She did it today.”
