If I ever lost to my friend at the Australian Open, I would dramatically never show my face again.
Why? Because if my friend was tennis star Aryna Sabalenka and she beat me at the Australian Open, I would need consoling and privacy. (Nobody talk to me. I need a moment.) Not only did I lose, but Ayrna had to do it to me on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
Thankfully, it seems Aryna is aware of what it must feel like to be in that sort of predicament. On Thursday, she faced her friend and fellow tennis player Paula Badosa in the Australian Open, beating her in straight sets.
Afterward, she offered one of the best remedies for that situation—SHOPPING.
“I hope she’s still my friend,” Aryna said during a post-match interview.
“I’m sure she [hates] me for the next—I don’t know, hour, day [or] two. I’m okay with that. [I] can handle that. And after that, I think we’re back [to being] friends … I promise, Paula, we [will] go shopping, and [I’ll] pay for whatever she wants. Whatever you want.”
Aryna Sabalenka after beating Paula Badosa to reach Australian Open Final:
“I hope she’s still my friend… I promise Paula we will go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever you want” 😂😂😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2025
What an awesome moment.
Paula was a good sport about it, too, but the win is going to cost Aryna. She didn’t hold back when asked what she would want from her friend.
“Something real expensive then,” Paula said, smiling in a presser..
“It’s going to be something real expensive because now I think she doubled the prize money. So, I think she won’t have a problem [with] that.”
Paula Badosa on what she will have Aryna Sabalenka buy for her after their match at Australian Open:
“Something really expensive.” 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2025
