Aryna Sabalenka promised to take her friend Paula Badosa shopping and said she would buy the Spaniard “whatever she wanted” on Thursday night.
It came after the Belarusian star claimed a straight sets victory over the Spaniard to book her place in the Australian Open women’s singles final.
The pair had previously called each other ‘soul mates’ and tonight they had to put their friendship aside to fight on the court.
In the end, it was the two-time Australian Open champion who emerged victorious and, although she admitted it was emotionally “difficult” to fight her friend, Sabalenka spoke about how the pair had approached the match.
“I think after a couple of battles between us, we talked and decided to put it aside,” Sabalenka said.
“We both wanted it desperately. It’s our dream. But here we are just opponents. Whatever happens on the field, we will be friends after our games.
Aryna Sabalenka promised Paula Badosa that she would take her shopping after beating her good friend in the Australian Open semifinals this Thursday

While Badosa had deflated after the match, Sabalenka arrived on stage and the pair were seen laughing and sharing a smile.
“It’s hard to do, but we match well, I don’t know.”
“I hope she’s still my friend…” He said as the crowd laughed.
I’m sure he’ll hate me for the next hour or the next day. I can handle that, but after that, we’re friends again. And we can go shopping together…’
Badosa had gone 2-0 up in the first set, coming off the blocks shooting against the world number 1. But Sabalenka turned the set around, firing off some powerful groundstrokes and perfectly weighted shots over the net to hit back with a double break.
He would take the first set 6-4 before stepping on the accelerator to seal the second set 6-2.
But in an attempt to win back her best friend, Sabalenka made a funny promise to Badosa.
“I promise Paula, we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay whatever you want,” Sabalenka joked, before hilariously backtracking on the insult.
‘Whatever you want, just without the previous word I said.’

Badosa has recovered from a terrible back injury over the past two years to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.

And he joked that he would make Sabalenka buy him something ‘really expensive’
While the interview was going on, Badosa appeared dejected in the player’s gym after being knocked out by Sabalenka.
But the Belarusian headed down the tunnel to see her friend where they shared a laugh and a hug.
And when asked what Sabalenka had told him, Badosa said: “That it was really unfair for me that she played at this level today (smiling). I expected, of course, a good level, but maybe not that much.
‘But no, she came to say that she played three semi-finals before winning a title. I was so proud of my improvement lately, especially everything I’ve been through.
‘So, yeah, we were just joking. “I’m very happy that, look, if I have to lose to someone, of course, I want to lose to the No. 1 in the world and to Aryna, and I wish her the best.”
Amusingly, Badosa went on to reveal what he thinks Sabalenka should buy him to make up for the loss.
“Something really expensive,” said the world number 12.
“It’s going to be really expensive because now I think he doubled the prize money.” So I think she won’t have any problem with that. I’ll think about it (smiling).’

Badosa admitted his pride in how far he has come in recent years, adding that he was happy to lose to someone like Sabalenka.

Sabalenka now has a chance to win her third consecutive Australian Open title

She will face Madison Keys in the main event, who defeated Iga Swiatek tonight.
Earlier in the week, Badosa revealed that she had doubted whether she would ever recover from the back injury that has plagued her for the past two years.
He stated that he was even on the verge of hanging up his racket last April, after receiving cortisone injections to try to continue playing.
But reflecting on her epic achievements this week, reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final, Badosa said she was “proud” of her journey.
‘It’s really, really positive. “I mean, I didn’t expect to maybe get better or go that fast,” he said.
“I didn’t check it, but looking at everyone’s results, now I know I’m in the top 10, but I think in the last few months I’m maybe in the top 5 of the players who have won the most games.”
‘For me that’s crazy, and it’s an incredible improvement, an incredible mental improvement, to believe, to come back from that.
I mean, I was in the top 10 once, but doing it twice I think not many people are capable of that. I’m very proud of myself because it’s not easy when you’re ranked 100th in the world and you have to face these types of players, but in the first round.
Coming back from that, I’m very, very proud of the trip.”