India, Jan. 17 -- In a pivotal third-round match at the Australian Open, Spain's 11th seed Paula Badosa triumphed over Ukraine's 17th seed Marta Kostyuk, securing victory in a closely contested encounter with scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the Kia Arena in Melbourne Park.

The match was marked by tension and unpredictability, highlighted by a humorous moment captured by cameras, which showed Badosa in a disagreement with her boyfriend, fellow tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was observing from the stands.

During the second set, after falling behind 5-0, Badosa was seen animatedly gesturing towards her player box, expressing her frustration with the windy conditions that disrupted her play. The cameras then focused on Tsitsipas, who appeared to be attempting to calm her down, advising her to "Calm, calm."

Despite his efforts, Badosa seemed displeased, as she picked up her racket at the changeover and offered it towards her box, seemingly suggesting that Tsitsipas could take her place. Tsitsipas responded with a light-hearted laugh at her gesture.

Following her victory over the powerful Kostyuk, Badosa clarified in her on-court interview that her earlier comments were directed at her coach, who was seated in front of Tsitsipas, rather than at Tsitsipas himself. 

"I was actually speaking to my coach, but he was incredibly supportive, providing me with excellent advice," Badosa stated. "He encouraged me to be aggressive and was there for me at every point. I think he was more anxious than I was, and I truly value his support."

Badosa also addressed the incident on social media via her X account, stating, "I wasn't talking to Stef; it was my coach in front of him. Let's not fabricate drama. Stef was the best supporter out there."

Bouncing back impressively from the 5-0 deficit, Badosa managed to win four games in the second set, regaining momentum despite ultimately losing that set, which propelled her to a commanding victory in the third set.

Badosa is set to face the winner of the match between Olga Danilo.

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