Stefanos Tsitsipas sent a heartfelt message to Paula Badosa following her defeat (Image: GETTY)
sent a heartfelt message to his girlfriend after she was knocked out of the at the penultimate hurdle.
The Spaniard was beaten in the semi-finals by defending champion , who will face Madison Keys in the final on Saturday.
Badosa made a bright start, taking advantage of her opponent’s mistakes to win the first two games. The tide quickly turned, though, with Sabalenka finding her rhythm to secure a 6-4 6-2 victory.
After stepping off the court, Badosa reflected on her journey to the semi-finals in Melbourne with an introspective post on .
Tsitsipas shared Badosa’s post to his Instagram story and wrote a sweet message (Image: INSTAGRAM @STEFANOSTSITSIPAS98)
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She wrote: “Life has a way of throwing challenges our way, testing our strength and determination. But it’s in those tough moments that we discover what we’re truly made of.
“Overcoming adversity isn’t just about enduring, it’s about growing, evolving, and coming out stronger than we ever imagined.”
Tsitsipas, who has been dating Badosa for nearly two years, shared her post to and sent her a consoling message, saying: “You don’t just play tennis. You play life, and you’re winning at both.”
In her post, Badosa explained she had learnt to appreciate the ‘beauty in the journey’ after dealing with her fair share of struggles. After beating in the quarter-finals, she admitted that she considered retiring at one point due to her injury problems.
“I’ve learned to see the beauty in the journey, even the parts that felt impossible at the time,” she wrote. “Those struggles shaped me, taught me resilience, and deepened my gratitude for every success and small victory that followed.
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“They also helped me appreciate the incredible people in my life, the ones who supported me, believed in me, and stood by me when I needed them most.
“Now, I find myself soaking in every moment, big and small, realising how precious this journey is. Success isn’t just about the destination, it’s about every step, every lesson, and every connection along the way. For that, I’m endlessly grateful.”
Sabalenka, meanwhile, is just one match away from winning the for the third year in a row. If she beats Keys in the final, she will become the first woman since Martina Hingis in the late 1990s to achieve a three-peat in Melbourne.
: “That was a super tough match against a friend, super happy for her to see her on her highest level. We both want it badly, it’s our dream.
“No matter what happens on the court, we’re going to be friends after, we agreed on that. I hope we’re still friends. If she hates me for the next few hours or day, that’s OK. I promised Paula we’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever she wants.”