MELBOURNE, Australia — “Her ball? It’s a rocket,” said world No. 10 Daria Kasatkina.
“It’s like winners everywhere,” added Paula Badosa, the world No. 12.
“Sometimes you’re like, ‘I’m just walking around the court because I feel like she’s playing Playstation’.”
Kasatkina and Badosa were talking about the toughest challenge in women’s tennis right now: taking on the world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka. Badosa was speaking after playing well but losing 6-4, 6-2 to her close friend in Thursday’s Australian Open semifinal, which was Sabalenka’s 20th straight win at Melbourne Park.
If she can make it 21 on Saturday, then Sabalenka will become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to pull off an Australian Open three-peat. Sabalenka is also the reigning U.S. Open champion, and she has won 33 of her last 34 Grand Slam matches on hard courts.
Next to attempt tennis’ version of Mission Impossible is the American world No. 19, Madison Keys, who, after reaching the final, said that Sabalenka is a reference point for her own game. Both are huge hitters, but Sabalenka has elevated herself by developing complete conviction in her tennis and adding variety to go with her power.
Ahead of the final, The Athletic surveyed the locker room to get a sense of what…
