Aryna Sabalenka has opened up on her friendship with Paula Badosa, calling the Spanish player her "soulmate" and explaining how they stay friends while competing on the WTA Tour.
The World No. 1 has celebrated her friendship with Badosa several times in the past, having repeatedly called the former World No. 2 her "soulmate". The duo can often be seen spending time together off the court during tournaments.
On International Friendship Day earlier this year, their racket sponsor Wilson recognized their strong bond with a post on Instagram of the two players hugging on the court. Both Sabalenka and Badosa shared the post on their Instagram stories.
Recently, Sabalenka opened up on their friendship and how rare it is to create such a strong bond amid the competitive environment on the WTA Tour. She also shared how the friends deal with having to compete against each other.
"It doesn't happen very often that you can find your soulmate on the circuit because we compete against each other. But we had this deal… on the court we are opponents, we can shout whatever we want, but off the court we are friends again.
"We can take a day, depending on who wins, to accept the fact that one of us lost, but then we become friends again. It's hard, and I'm super happy to have her. She is a very nice girl and having her by my side is very important to me," she said.
The two friends have faced each other four times in the past, with their head-to-head currently level at 2-2.
The Belarusian has reached new heights in her career this year as she won the Australian Open in January and recently overtook Iga Swiatek at the top of the WTA Ranking for the first time. Unfortunately, Badosa's year has not been going well as an injury forced her to put an end to her season just before the US Open.
Aryna Sabakenka says it’s tough to find a soulmate on tour, but she’s found it in Paula Badosa: “It doesn't happen very often that you can find your soulmate on the circuit because we compete against each other. But we had this deal… on the court we are opponents, we can shout…
