Paula Badosa Shocks Coco Gauff in Australian Open Quarterfinals; Zverev Defeats Paul to Reach Semis
After a year of setbacks, Badosa advances to her first Grand Slam semifinal with a straight-sets victory over Gauff, while Zverev cruises past Paul.
Melbourne, Australia – Paula Badosa has stunned world number three Coco Gauff with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, securing her place in the semifinals for the first time in her career. The emotional Spanish player, who almost retired from tennis just a year ago due to a back injury, will now face either Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the final.
Badosa’s win marks a remarkable comeback after a challenging year in which she was ranked outside the top 100. Reflecting on her journey, the 11th seed said, "A year ago, I didn’t know if I would have to retire due to my back injury, and now I’m here, playing against the best in the world. I’m super proud of the level I gave today."
The match, which lasted one hour and 43 minutes, saw Badosa take control early, applying pressure to Gauff’s serve from the start. Despite Gauff’s undefeated record in 2025, the American struggled with unforced errors and was unable to create break points in the first set. Badosa, known for her aggressive play, capitalized on the opportunities to win her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Gauff, who had previously won nine straight matches this season, admitted she wasn’t at her best but expressed optimism about her progress. "Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m on an upward trajectory," Gauff said. "I know what I need to work on. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed."
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev secured his spot in the semifinals after a 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-1 win over Tommy Paul. The second seed showed resilience, especially after a bizarre incident during the match when a bird’s feather disrupted his play. Zverev was down a break in the second set when chair umpire Nacho Forcadell called a let, ordering a replay of a point after the feather dropped into Zverev’s line of sight during his backswing. The German was visibly frustrated but continued to dominate the match, eventually securing the victory.
Zverev’s next opponent will be the winner of the quarterfinal clash between 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz.