Paula Badosa said Aryna Sabalenka beat her in Thursday’s Australian Open semifinal and said she was so good she “felt like she was playing PlayStation.”
Belarusian world leader Sabalenka defeated her close friend from Spain 6-4, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalence is just one win away from a third Melbourne crown in a row and Badosa said there was nothing stopping her based on the evidence from their match.
“Everything she did today, everything she touched today, could become gold. I have nothing to say,” said Badosa, seeded 11th.
“Of course, she deserves recognition and congratulations. She played the best match not even of the week – certainly of recent months.
“If she plays like that, it means we can give her the trophy.”
Badosa stated that she felt powerless in the face of the red-hot Sabalenka and her relentless play, and stated that it showed why she is a top player in the women’s rankings.
“Sometimes you think, I don’t know, I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing PlayStation.
“She was like that today. So sometimes I ask: what’s going on? I don’t even have time to think.”
Badosa, 27, the world’s second-ranked former tennis player to almost quit tennis last year due to a back injury, was generally pleased with her efforts as she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal.
They both shared kind words later.
“Of course I expected a good level, but maybe not that high,” Badosa said of the 26-year-old’s ruthless performance.
“She came to say that she had played in three semi-finals before winning the title and that she was very proud of my recent progress, especially considering everything I had been through.”
