Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-4: Badosa holds to 15 as the unforced errors continue to mount up for Gauff. The American has hit 21 to Badosa’s seven and is running out of time to turn this around.

Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 2-3: Badosa breaks again! Gauff has lifted her intensity and pummels a backhand from out wide cross-court for 40-15. But a double fault and a backhand dragged into the net brings Badosa back to deuce. The Spaniard attacks the net from there and breaks off a pair of forehand volleys.

Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-2: Gauff breaks for the first time in the match! Badosa continues to test Gauff’s forehand and starts with a chip that the American fails to return. A mishit Gauff return lands in the corner for 15-15 as she sends a wave of apology, then very much times a backhand to take set up her first two break points of the day. A long forehand from Badosa ties the second set.

Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 1-2: Gauff holds for the first time in three service games but Badosa remains threatening off her returns as the Spaniard stands aggressively just inside the baseline.

Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 0-2: Badosa opens the door for Gauff with a double fault for 30-30 but soon closes it off a superb point from both players. The Spaniard is on the front foot looking to move towards the net and when Gauff tries to lob her is able to reach a high ball to smash a winner. Gauff nets a backhand as Badosa holds to 30.

Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 0-1: Badosa breaks! The Spaniard is up and running for the start of the second set and quickly has another break point after a sloppy Gauff backhand. This time the American is able to save it with a scorching serve and volley off the return for deuce. Gauff moves to advantage four times, the third coming from an ace that she quickly gives up with a double fault, before Badosa claims four more break points. The No 11 seed completes the break as Gauff gets too far under a forehand from the baseline. Badosa is on top with her return of serve as that game took 13 minutes.

Gauff v Badosa* 5-7: Paula Badosa holds to take the first set 7-5 in 50 minutes. Gauff has her chances to break back immediately while facing a second serve at 30-30, but lacks the patience as she goes for a backhand down the line straight off the return and gets too far around the shot. Gauff then sends a forehand over the baseline off a short rally and will have to fight back from a set down for the second match in a row.

Gauff* v Badosa 5-6: Badosa breaks! The No 11 seed pulls out to 0-30 but is unable to make the most of a Gauff second serve with a lacklustre return that allows the American to take control of the point. The Spaniard confidently attacks on the backhand but is hits narrowly wide for 30-30, but then gets to the net and closes the door with a string of volleys before diving to her left with a backhand that sets up break point. A powerful forehand seals the break and Badosa will serve for the opening set.

Gauff v Badosa* 5-5: Badosa holds to 15 as the Spaniard lands more of her first serves. The No 11 seed has only dropped two points off her first serve but the concern is that she has only landed 45% of them.

Gauff* v Badosa 5-4: Gauff eases to 40-0 with a pair of confident winners off each side then gives up the first point off her serve for a couple of games with a double fault. The American sends Badosa wide with her next serve then comes forward to smash the return away and hold. The Spaniard needs to find a way to test Gauff on her serve more and will now serve to stay in the set.

Gauff v Badosa* 4-4: Gauff is largely untroubled off Badosa’s serve to take the game to 30-30 before the American nets twice off the forehand. The rallies are starting to stretch out longer as both players are happy to play down the middle of the court more.

Gauff* v Badosa 4-3: Gauff starts with an ace – her second the day – then holds to love in her most comfortable service game so far. This time it’s Badosa’s turn to misfire off the forehard.

Gauff v Badosa* 3-3: Badosa holds to 30 despite her first double fault of the match as we remain on serve on RLA.

Gauff* v Badosa 3-2: Gauff fires in her first ace of the day at 0-15 then patiently waits for a pair of errors on Badosa’s forehand. The No 3 seed sends Badosa scampering back and forth across the baseline then closes out the game to 15 with a blistering forehand while on the move.

Gauff v Badosa* 2-2: Gauff set ups well behind the baseline as she comfortably returns serve the waits for unforced errors from Badosa to pull away to 0-30. Gauff nets, hits wide then long as Badosa continues to target her opponent’s forehand but the American sets up the next point when clubbing cross-court off the same side for deuce. Gauff does the same with perhaps the shot of the day so far, hitting from deep in the right corner to the far left for another deuce before Badosa finally holds.

Gauff* v Badosa 2-1: Badosa sets up the first break points of the match as the Spaniard peppers Gauff’s forehand. But the No 3 seed serves her way out of trouble from 15-40 to fight back to deuce, as another powerful first serve and limp return takes Gauff to advantage. Three first serves in a row sail long to keep Badosa in the game until Gauff rediscovers her radar to hold. The importance of the first serve today has quickly become apparent.

Gauff v Badosa* 1-1: Badosa starts with an ace then Gauff sends a return long at. The Spaniard quickly finishes off a pair of rallies to race through her serve to love.

Gauff* v Badosa 1-0: Gauff starts with a comfortable hold as the 20-year-old’s poweful serve troubles Badosa from the get go.

Coco Gauff is ready to serve first against Paula Badosa. Let the quarter-finals begin …

Australia’s Alex de Minaur is another to reach a personal best at his home grand slam, brushing aside young American Alex Michelsen in straight sets last night to set up a quarter-final showdown with Jannik Sinner.

Jack Snape was at Melbourne Park to cover the No 8 seed as he reached the last eight at the Australian Open for the first time.

Gauff and Badosa are familiar opponents, having met eight times previously with the head-to-head tied at 4-4. Badosa has show signs of returning to her best especially in a three-set win when challenged by 17th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round. This is the first time the Spaniard has reached the last eight at Melbourne Park as she now seeks a breakthrough grand slam semi-final.

Coco Gauff dropped a set for the first time at the 2025 Australian Open during the round of 16 before eventually overrunning the returning Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. The No 3 seed can expect another tough battle today against former world No 2 and 11th seed Paula Badosa who is rapidly returning to form after her career was threatened by a chronic back injury. Both players are arriving with plenty of bounce in their step as they make their way onto RLA.

Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa are warming up away from the heat and in the caverns of Melbourne Park, but a reminder of how the third seed progressed to the last eight and within one step of a much-anticipated match-up with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

The temperature is heating up along with the action on the show courts with a high of 33C expected at Melbourne Park and sure to test the players during the day session.

The forecast for the rest of the week is a much more tennis-friendly low-to-mid 20s.

https://x.com/BOM_Vic/status/1881447792217886889

Preamble

Martin Pegan