Aryna Sabalenka admitted that the wind caused significant challenges for her during her Australian Open quarterfinal match, with the world No. 1 confessing that she was “praying” just to get through the tough conditions. Despite struggling with 27 unforced errors and five service breaks, Sabalenka managed to overcome Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
Sabalenka was visibly frustrated during the match, especially after losing her first set at Melbourne Park since the 2023 final, and falling behind in the third set. However, the Belarusian found a way to pull through, breaking Pavlyuchenkova three times in the decider to secure the win. Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka expressed her relief, saying she was “just trying to put the ball back” and was “so pleased” to have managed to win despite the tough conditions.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka will face her best friend, Paula Badosa, in the semifinals after Badosa upset Coco Gauff to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. Sabalenka has a strong head-to-head record against Badosa, winning their last five encounters, but she acknowledged the value of tough battles, hoping this experience would help her in the later stages of the tournament. Despite not winning in straight sets as she hoped, she remains focused on her goal of completing a three-peat at the Australian Open.
