Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka are often mentioned by both fans and pundits while talking about the future stars on the WTA Tour. One would justifiably presume that the two players would not like to bear to see each other like some rivals on the circuit. However, that is not the case. Though they had different perceptions of each other before they got to know each other, they are now best friends. Despite her close bond with the Belarusian tennis star, before their match at the Stuttgart Open, Badosa clarified that when they are on the court, they are ‘ON’ the court.

We have some iconic friendships in the tennis realm ranging from Martina Navratilova-Chris Evert to Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal. However, they knew how to balance things out on the court. It seems to be the same case with Badosa and Sabalenka.

How does Paula Badosa react to her friendship with Aryna Sabalenka on the court? 

The Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa has had an astounding rise on the circuit. However, this year she is yet to win a tournament. And now she is going to face against her best friend Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.

Talking about that in her press conference, she mentioned about their blooming friendship. Complimenting Sabalenka for winning the Adelaide International I and the Australian Open, Badosa said, “Every time we play each other, it’s a battle. It’s very tough. She’s playing unbelievable this year.”

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However, she also talked about how she has managed to find a balance between friendship and rivalry on the court. She stated, “I have a very good relationship with a lot of them, and we put aside.”

Continuing about her mindset, she stated, “In that moment, we are very competitive. I think Aryna is the same. In that moment we are not friends.” But she also shed light on how quickly they bounce back to being friends, as she said, “When the last ball finishes, then we are gonna be friends again.“

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This is the kind of equation we have seen in other rivalries too.

How did the Evert-Navratilova and Federer-Nadal rivalries prevail?

As a matter of fact, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova used to console each other after whosoever lost a match between them. Like Badosa and Sabalenka, irrespective of the on-court result, they remained close friends once they stepped off the court. In a similar manner, Roger Federer has on multiple occasions worried about Nadal and vice versa when they suffered a serious injury. This was witnessed back in 2009 when Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon.

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Do you think Badosa and Sabalenka will enjoy the on-court success of the other rivals we have seen in the past? Let us know in the comments below.