Paula Badosa and Madison Keys will be out to prevent a dream Australian Open final when they face Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively, in Thursday's semi-finals at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka is on course to become the first woman to complete a "three-peat" since Swiss great Martina Hingis from 1997-90,

Aryna Sabalenka will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The two-time defending champion’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park looked in serious danger when she lost the second set on a windy Rod Laver Arena.

Paula Badosa thought she might retire due to a back injury. A year later, she's in to the semifinals against close friend Aryna Sabalenka.

Aryna Sabalenka will not let her friendship with Paula Badosa affect her quest to win a third successive Australian Open title when the best friends clash in the semi-finals, the defending champion said on Tuesday.

Aryna Sabalenka is set to face her best friend Paula Badosa in the Australian Open semi-finals, aiming for a third consecutive title. Despite their friendship, Sabalenka is determined to maintain her competitive edge and join an elite group of players who have achieved consecutive wins.

Paula Badosa has continued her resurgence here at the Australian Open, a dogged refusal to back down and take more seeds down, including Coco Gauff, in straight sets during the Quarter-Final match. Her shot selection was measured; she never gave up being consistent from the baseline and was also clutch on those return games in beating Gauff.

Paula Badosa ended Coco Gauff's winning run to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open after recording a 7-5 6-4 victory.

Coco Gauff of the U.S. reacts during her quarterfinal match against Paula Badosa of Spain during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan.