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…