Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1 ranking) will face Paula Badosa (No. 12) in the semifinals at the Australian Open on Thursday, January 23.Sabalenka secured a three-set victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Aryna Sabalenka sets up Australian Open semi-final with good friend Paula Badosa - The two-time defending champion recovered from losing her first set of the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to a 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Aryna Sabalenka had her back to the wall early in the third set of her quarterfinal against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, but the world number one stuck to a simple process to stay alive at the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive Australian Open championship will continue after she got past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in a surprisingly difficult quarterfinal

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has fought past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets to reach an Australian Open semi-final against Paula Badosa.