‘Tough to play your best friend’

Aryna Sabalenka during her third-round win over Paula Badosa at the French Open in Paris on Saturday; (right) Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Pics/Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka overcame a sluggish start to defeat close friend Paula Badosa 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to take her place in the last 16 of the French Open.

Former World No. 2 Badosa led 5-3 in the first set but two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka reeled off 10 of the final 11 games to sweep into the second week for the second year in a row.

Warm embrace at net

"It's tough to play your best friend, but we know how to separate things," said Sabalenka, who shared a warm embrace with Badosa at the net. "I just tried to play my best and fight for every point. I know the conditions were tough and the serve wasn't an advantage."

Paula Badosa

Sabalenka, a semi-finalist in Paris in 2023, has made at least the last four at her past six Grand Slams and is expected to be Iga Swiatek's chief rival in the Pole's bid for a fourth French Open title.

She will meet American 14th seed Madison Keys or her compatriot Emma Navarro, the 22nd seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Rybakina defeats Mertens

Elena Rybakina advanced to the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Belgium's Elise Mertens.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina broke three times in a row to edge a tight first set against the 25th seed before finding her rhythm in the second to close out victory.

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