Defending champion Iga Swiatek and world number one Aryna Sabalenka hope to avenge their biggest defeats of 2025 in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals. On Friday, the Pole will take on Mirra Andreeva, the young Russian who beat her 6-3 6-3 in the Dubai quarterfinals last month. The Belarusian top seed is seeking redemption for the 2025 Australian Open final, which she lost to Madison Keys 3-6 6-2 5-7.
Sabalenka fired up to avenge Australian Open defeat
The Belarusian top seed isn’t dwelling on past disappointments—instead, she’s using them as fuel. After cruising past Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 6-3 in the quarterfinals, she told media that the January defeat was only coming to her mind as motivation to get back that revenge:
It was a tough match. She played great there. I didn’t play my best and I’m really happy that tomorrow I will have opportunity to get this revenge back.
Having reached the semifinals without dropping a set, Sabalenka is in top form. The prospect of a quick rematch with Keys is exactly what drives her competitive spirit:
That’s why I love sports, because if you’re not giving up, if you’re working hard, life will bring you opportunity to improve the mistake you did in the last match.
Keys’ confidence at an all-time high
The lone American semifinalist,…
