By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday, January 23, 2025
“Shop ’til you drop” could be the new slogan for Paula Badosa whenever she spends time with her close friend Aryna Sabalenka.
On Thursday night at Rod Laver Arena, the two met on the court once again, with Sabalenka emerging victorious for the sixth time in a row, winning 6-4, 6-2.
Following her win, a heartwarming moment unfolded when Sabalenka playfully promised to take Badosa on a shopping spree, insisting she’d cover all the expenses.
“I hope she’s still my friend,” Sabalenka joked with the crowd. “I promise Paula, we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants!”
Besties go shopping 🛍️
We hope you hold @SabalenkaA to this @paulabadosa 😂#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/3BtV00KC37
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Badosa, who advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne this week, expressed her excitement about the shopping invitation.
“It’s going to be quite an extravagant outing because I think her prize money just doubled,” Badosa quipped. “So she shouldn’t mind covering it—I’ll give it some thought!”
With her victory, Sabalenka secured an additional 800,000 Australian dollars (approximately 501,000 US dollars).
Sabalenka Shines as the Top Player
Badosa had high praise for Sabalenka’s performance during their match.
“Aryna played like a true No. 1 today,” Badosa remarked. “There wasn’t much else I could do. She delivered her best match not only of the week but of the last few months. If she maintains this level, the trophy could already be hers.”
When asked to elaborate on what it means to play like a top-ranked player, she expressed:
“It’s about being aggressive, targeting lines, and seamlessly changing directions. When challenged with a strong shot, she responded with speed and precision, coupled with exceptional serving.”
“She truly excelled today—that’s the hallmark of a Number 1 player.”