(Video) Emotional Paula Badosa breaks down at the Australian Open after ‘incredible’ turnaround from ‘potential’ retirement forcing injury last year
Paula Badosa upset World No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open.
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Paula Badosa broke down in tears after beating Coco Gauff in the quarterfinal of Australian Open (Images via X)
Paula Badosa has become a Grand Slam semifinalist for the first time. On Tuesday (January 21), she upset World No.3 Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 to secure a spot in the Australian Open semifinal.
Gauff, who failed to create any break point in the first set and recorded 41 unforced errors to Badosa’s 23, suffered a defeat for the first time in 2025, in an hour and 43 minutes inside Rod Laver Arena. Before this match, the 2023 US Open champion was 9-0 in the season following her three-set win over Belinda Bencic.
Today I came in, and I wanted to play my best game, and I think I did. Coco, at the beginning, she was playing insane tennis, but I’m super proud of the level I gave today.
Paula Badosa said during her on-court interview
A year ago, Badosa was on the brink of retirement. The career-threatening back injury she has been dealing with resulted in mid-match retirement and withdrawal from several tournaments. Following the emphatic win, an emotional Badosa sank to her knees and reflected on her turnaround from a possible retirement.
Watch the video here:
First Grand Slam semifinal, first win against a Top 10 opponent in a Grand Slam – Paula Badosa, this was a lesson in class and conviction 👏👏@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • @paulabadosa • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/O14jgI05KT
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
A year ago, I was here with my back [injury] that I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I’m here, playing the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semifinals, and I never would think that a year later, I would be here.
Paula Badosa added
Badosa, who last year was defeated in the third round at Melbourne Park, has now registered the fourth win over the American in their seven meetings and won all of these matches against Gauff in straight sets. She also defeated a Top 10 player in a Grand Slam event for the first time.
Paula Badosa could face Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal
Paula Badosa is now waiting for the quarterfinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova which the World No.1 is the favorite to win in spite of her 1-2 head-to-head record.
The 26-year-old Belarusian is yet to drop a set in the tournament. Pavlyuchenkova, on the other hand, has registered two three-set wins.
The 27-year-old Badosa has won the two matches she played against the 2021 French Open finalist Pavlyuchenkova. Against her best friend Sabalenka however, Badosa is 2-5. In their last encounter, the two-time defending champion beat Badosa in straight sets in the 2024 French Open.
Badosa reached the semifinal in a tournament for the first time this season. She had disappointing campaigns at the Brisbane International and the Adelaide International where she reached just the first and second rounds respectively.
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Gouri Das
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