Paula Badosa found it hard to comprehend the moment. With her knees on the ground and her head bowed, she took a few moments to collect her thoughts before sprinting to the net. After experiencing disappointment in two prior Grand Slam quarterfinals, this post-match handshake was a dream come true for the Spaniard. Following a gruelling contest lasting 1 hour and 43 minutes, Badosa triumphed over World No. 3 Coco Gauff at the Australian Open, securing her place in her first Grand Slam semi-final. She became only the fourth Spanish woman to achieve this milestone in a major singles event, the first since Garbine Muguruza in Melbourne in 2020.

"I am feeling quite emotional," Badosa remarked, as she prepared to face either two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who were scheduled to compete later for a spot in the final.

"I am a very emotional person. I aimed to deliver my best performance, and I believe I accomplished that. I am extremely proud of the level I exhibited today."

The 11th seed delivered a remarkable performance, defeating Gauff, the US Open champion, in straight sets (7-5, 6-4).

Badosa's victory over Gauff not only marked her entry into her first Grand Slam semi-final but also represented her first win against a top-10 player in a Grand Slam. However, the depth of her emotions stemmed from her journey over the past 12 to 13 months. A year ago, she was ranked outside the top 100 due to a stress fracture in her back, an injury so severe that she contemplated retirement.

"A year ago, I was uncertain about my future in this sport due to my back issues, and now I find myself competing against the best in the world," Badosa reflected.

"I won today and reached the semi-finals. I never imagined that just a year later, I would be in this position."

From contemplating retirement to reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final, it has indeed been a remarkable year for @paulabadosa #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/bz34cWfvnE

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025  

The third-seeded Gauff had been undefeated in nine matches this season but faced her first set loss of 2025 before ultimately recovering.

Read Also: "Triumph of the Tenacious: A Sinner's Journey"

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