ARYNA SABALENKA will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The two-time defending champion’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park looked in serious danger when she lost the second set on a windy Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka struggled to control her emotions and Pavlyuchenkova twice went an early break-up in the deciding set but ultimately the top seed’s power carried her to a 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory.

Sabalenka has now made at least the last four at seven of her last eight grand slam tournaments — she missed Wimbledon last summer through injury.

The 26-year-old said: “I was just praying today, just praying to put the ball back in these tough conditions. It was very difficult to play, she played amazing tennis.

“I’m just super happy I was just somehow able to win this match. I’m glad I’m in the semis and I cannot wait to play against Paula.”

It is the first time Sabalenka has lost a set at the tournament since the 2023 final, and she added: “I was all over the place. I’m really glad that at some point I was able to put myself back together, and I was able to just get back to the match.”

Earlier, Badosa ended Coco Gauff’s 13-match winning run to reach her first grand slam semi-final.

The US third seed arrived in Melbourne as the most in-form player on tour after winning the WTA Finals to end last season and then all five singles matches at the United Cup, including a clash against Iga Swiatek.

But Gauff made 41 unforced errors and it was Spaniard Badosa who came out on top in a 7-5 6-4 victory.

Badosa feared she may have to retire last year because of a persistent back problem but ended the season strongly, making the quarter-finals of the US Open, and has now hit a new high here.

“Today I came in and I wanted to play my best game and I think I did it,” she said. “Coco, at the beginning she was playing insane tennis, but I’m super proud of the level I gave today.

“A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport and now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals. I will never think that a year after I would be here.

“I get emotional because it means a lot for me. I wanted it so much. Also, I try to enjoy it after. I think I learned to value a little bit more, the moments.”

Badosa insisted there would be no awkwardness surrounding her clash with Sabalenka, saying: “It’s pretty chill. We know how to separate things very well. We spoke about it so many times.

“We admire, respect each other. It’s going to be a battle inside the court, of course, but outside it’s super normal.”

Gauff fought back from 5-2 down in the second set but could not force a decider.

She said: “Paula was playing great. Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way, could have been a different outcome in the first set.

“I think it’s just a lot more work to do. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed. I’m looking forward to a lot. Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m in an upward trajectory.”

Meanwhile, Goran Ivanisevic has announced he will no longer coach Elena Rybakina.

The pair engaged in a trial period through to the end of the Australian Open but it appeared certain to end in a split after Rybakina announced she was rehiring Stefano Vukov, who is the subject of a WTA investigation over an alleged breach of the governing body’s code of conduct.