Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive Australian Open championship will continue after she got past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a surprisingly difficult quarterfinal.

Aryna Sabalenka will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The two-time defending champion’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park looked in serious danger when she lost the second set on a windy Rod Laver Arena.

The first matches of Day 12 of the Melbourne Major begin at 11.30 am local time on the Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, while those on Kia Arena, John Cain Arena, and other courts commence at 11 am. The evening session on the Rod Laver Arena, when the singles semifinals will be played, begins at 7.30 pm local time.