Aryna Sabalenka is into the semi-finals of
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart after prevailing over her close friend,
Paula Badosa 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday afternoon.
Sabalenka had to do it the hard way with the Belarusian coming from a set down and also being broken while serving for the match to test her resolve but she won through.
It is 9 wins in 11 matches in Stuttgart and a fourth semi-final for Sabalenka this season.
Badosa looked superb to start the tie and benefited also from some misfortune for Sabalenka as when serving for the opening set, Sabalenka missed a drop shot that would've given her two break points.
She goes on to fashion three break point opportunities from there, only to be denied anyway as Badosa took it 6-4.
Badosa carried on the front foot but couldn't break as Sabalenka continued to hold and the Spaniard continued to lead but a netted backhand costed Badosa at 4-3 and Sabalenka held to love at 5-4 flipping the match on its head.
Having leveled up 6-4 herself, she broke 2-0 in the decider after a Badosa double fault. However that was taken back by Badosa for 3-2 only to spurn hold opportunities to make it 4-4 and Sabalenka on her third break point made it 5-3.
Only to lose it while serving sending down a double fault at the worst time at 15-40 and Badosa put it back on serve only for it to be another break that decided it.
After a first match point went begging, Sabalenka finally converted on advantage after Badosa had chances herself for 5-5.