In the world of professional tennis, rivalries and friendships often collide, and Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa have mastered the art of balancing both. Following their high-stakes Australian Open semifinal showdown, Sabalenka fulfilled her promise to her best friend Badosa by treating her to a luxurious bracelet—a small consolation after denying the Spaniard a shot at her first Grand Slam final.
A Tough Loss, But a Priceless Friendship 💙
Badosa was in the form of her life at the 2025 Australian Open, stunning Coco Gauff to reach her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal. However, standing in her way was her best friend and World No. 1 Sabalenka, who ended Badosa’s fairytale run with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
After the match, Sabalenka made a lighthearted promise to her devastated friend:
🗣 “I hope she’s still my friend. I’m sure she hates me for the next, I don’t know, hour, day or two. But I promise Paula we go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants.”
Sabalenka Delivers—Badosa Gets Her Gift! 🎁
True to her word, Sabalenka took Badosa shopping, spoiling her with a luxurious bracelet. The Belarusian shared a heartwarming moment on Instagram, posting a video of Badosa unwrapping her gift, captioned:
“She said she forgave me.” 😂
From Badosa’s beaming smile, it’s safe to say that the gift did the trick!
On-Court Rivals, Off-Court Besties 👯♀️
Sabalenka and Badosa have one of the closest friendships on the WTA Tour, often spotted supporting each other both on and off the court. Their unbreakable bond was on full display in Melbourne, where despite competing for a place in a Grand Slam final, they never let competition affect their friendship.
🗣 “We both wanted it badly. It’s our dream. Here, we’re just opponents. No matter what happens on the court, we’re gonna be friends after our matches.” – Sabalenka
What’s Next for the Besties? 🏆
Both Sabalenka and Badosa are now in Doha, preparing for next week’s WTA 1000 Qatar Open:
✅ Sabalenka (Top Seed) → First-Round Bye, awaits the winner of Emma Raducanu vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova
✅ Badosa → Faces Katerina Siniakova in the first round
Will we see another deep run from Badosa? Or will Sabalenka dominate yet again? One thing’s for sure—win or lose, their friendship remains undefeated.
💬 What do you think about Sabalenka and Badosa’s friendship? Should more WTA players embrace this kind of sportsmanship? Let us know in the comments! 🎾💙
