Aryna Sabalenka has earned her place in a third consecutive Australian Open final following a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win over Paula Badosa on Thursday night.
Sabalenka produced 32 winners to Badosa's 11 to oust the 11th seed in one hour and 26 minutes.
Facing a great mate in Badosa, Sabalenka said the pair had made a pact that competitive matches would not come between their friendship.
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"After a couple of battles against each other, we spoke and we decided to put [the results] aside," she told the crowd post-match.
"Here we are opponents. No matter what happens on the court we'll be friends after our matches. It's tough to do but we agreed on that.
Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka embrace at the net after their Australian Open semi final. Nine
"I think we do it well, I don't know. I hope she's still my friend.
"Probably, she is.
"I'm sure she will hate me for the next hour, day — I'm OK with that. I can handle that. After that, we're back to being friends.
"Back to going out together, shopping … I promise we'll go shopping and I'll pay for whatever she wants. Whatever she wants."
The opening set was an arm wrestle with several deuce points and breaks of serve before Sabalenka turned the first stanza around.
Badosa got off to a fast start, hanging onto her first service game before breaking Sabalenka's serve in the next game.
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Aryna Sabalenka in action against Paula Badosa. AP
The twice-defending champion appeared a bit nervous and trigger-happy early, contributing four unforced errors as Badosa assumed a 2-0 lead.
In a pivotal moment with hindsight, Badosa threatened to go 3-love up, scoring points in the game but Sabalenka was able to break back to stem the bleeding.
Sabalenka then broke again in the fifth game.
The opening five games took well over half an hour as the pair fought tooth and nail for every point.
The world No.1 eventually served out the first set — landing the first blow with an ace straight down the T.
Sabalenka's class proved too much in the second set as the Belarussian quickly shot out to a double break.
With no weapons to draw on, Badosa quickly faded out of the contest, her Australian Open campaign ending at the mercy of Sabalenka.
"This has been a champion's performance," Sam Smith said of Sabalenka's performance in commentary for Nine.
With a win in Saturday night's final, Sabalenka would become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the tournament three years in a row.
