Paula Badosa Celebrates Maiden Grand Slam Semi-Final Berth

Paula Badosa pulled off a stunning 7-5, 6-4 upset over Coco Gauff to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open, ending the American's nine-match winning streak.

Paula Badosa pulled off a stunning upset at the Australian Open, defeating world number three Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. This victory marked a significant milestone for Badosa, as she reached her first Slam semi-final.

Badosa's achievement is also a notable one for Spanish tennis, as she becomes the first Spanish woman to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open since Garbine Muguruza in 2020. Overcome with emotion, Badosa said, “I'm a bit emotional,” as she reflected on her remarkable win.

Badosa will now face either two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi-finals, with a place in the final on the line. As she looks ahead to her next challenge, Badosa will be riding high on the momentum of her upset victory over Gauff.

An emotional Paula Badosa reflected on her remarkable 7-5, 6-4 victory over Coco Gauff in the Australian Open quarter-finals, saying, “I'm a very emotional person. I wanted to play my best game. I think I did it.” Badosa was proud of her performance, adding, “I'm super proud of the level I gave today.”

Badosa's win marks a significant comeback for the 11th seed, who was ranked outside the top 100 just a year ago due to a stress fracture in her back. She recalled her struggles, saying, “I mean, 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. I won today. I'm in a semi-final. So I would never think that a year after I would be here.”

FIRST GRAND SLAM SEMIFINAL! #AO2025 🙌 @paulabadosa pic.twitter.com/BYUbE8bgN3

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025

Coco Gauff, the third seed, had been on a nine-match winning streak this season but was ultimately outplayed by Badosa. Gauff had previously dropped only one set all season but was unable to overcome Badosa's aggressive start. The Spaniard broke Gauff's serve at 5-5 in the first set and went on to take the opener in 56 minutes.

The match was marked by Badosa's relentless pressure, particularly in the second set. The first game alone lasted 14 minutes and went to eight deuces, with Badosa eventually emerging victorious. Gauff, uncharacteristically, struggled with unforced errors and failed to create any break-point opportunities in the first set.

Coco Gauff's resistance was eventually broken as Paula Badosa secured another crucial break. Despite saving four break points, Gauff was unable to recover from a fifth, hitting a shot long to concede her serve once more.

She's on her way to her first #AusOpen Semifinal, and now earns herself the @haierglobal Superior #Performance point of the day!

Take a bow @paulabadosa 👏#MoreCreationMorePossibilities • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @WOWOWtennis pic.twitter.com/V21HWjmQt7

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025

Gauff refused to give up, however, and she sparked a brief comeback with a stunning running forehand winner and a precise backhand at the net. This surge of momentum helped Gauff break back and level the score at 2-2, momentarily shifting the momentum in her favor.

Ultimately, Badosa's relentless pressure proved too much for Gauff. The Spaniard secured two more breaks, sealing the match in 1 hour and 43 minutes. As the reality of her victory sunk in, Badosa celebrated by falling to the court, reveling in her first win over a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam in four attempts.