Sabalenka closes in on AO three-peat

MELBOURNE  – Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka put her close friendship with Paula Badosa aside Thursday to sweep past the Spaniard, 6-4, 6-2, and into a third successive Australian Open final.

The hard, fast courts of Melbourne Park have been the 26-year-old’s happy place.

The Belarusian world No. 1 has now won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open to close in on a third consecutive crown -- something that hasn’t happened this century.

The last person to achieve the feat was Martina Hingis in 1999 and only four other women have completed the three-peat –Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

“Super tough match against a friend,” she said. “Super happy to be through.”

Sabalenka last year described Badosa as her “best friend” and “soulmate”, but it was all business on a cool Melbourne evening.

The 11th seed Badosa stunned world No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Slam semifinal at the age of 27 and came out swinging.