Sabalenka will leave 'everything out there' to win third Australian Open
By Lidia Kelly
MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka said she will leave "everything out there" to become the first woman this century to claim three consecutive Australian Open titles after overpowering her friend Paula Badosa in Thursday's semi-finals.
After a shaky start, the world number one rolled over Badosa 6-4 6-2 and will try to complete a "three-peat" for the first time since Martina Hingis in 1997-99.
"It's been a dream. I mean I couldn't even dream about that, to be honest. At first I was dreaming to win at least one Grand Slam, now I have this opportunity, it's incredible, and I'm going to go out and leave everything I have in the finals," Sabalenka said.
If the 26-year-old wins on Saturday, she will join an elite group of players who have won three Australian Open titles in a row, including Margaret Court (1969-71), Evonne Goolagong (1974-76), Steffi Graf (1988-90), Monica Seles (1991-93) and Hingis.
"That's crazy that I was able to put myself in the situation where I have chance to put my name next to the legends," she said. "It's going to mean a lot for me."
Badosa praised Sabalenka for producing the highest quality tennis.
"Everything she was doing today, touching today, could become gold," Badosa told reporters. "If she plays like this, I mean we can already give her the trophy."
Sabalenka said her friendship with Badosa will survive the on-court battles and promised to take the Spaniard on a shopping spree.
"I promise Paula, we go shopping and I pay for whatever ... you want," she said. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Ken Ferris)
