Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Year : 2, Issue: 21/strong>
Reuters: Spain’s Paula Badosa stunned error-prone third seed Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time at the third attempt.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Badosa on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena as she set up a meeting with double defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The 11th seed’s two previous Grand Slam quarter-finals had resulted in disappointing defeats and she sank to her knees in disbelief after sealing the victory with her 15th winner. “I’m a bit emotional, as you know, I’m a very emotional person,” said the 27-year-old after securing her first win over a top 10 seed at a major.
“This is a dream come true.”
The victory was all the more special for Badosa given her long road back to fitness after suffering a stress fracture in her spine at the 2023 Italian Open.
“A year ago, I was here with my back that I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I’m here playing against the best in the world,” she said.
“I won today. I’m in the semi-finals.”
