Paula Badosa shocked Australian Open favourite Coco Gauff to reach her first grand slam semi-final.

Badosa, once ranked as high as second in the world by the WTA, has had a long road to recovery from a career-threatening back injury.

Yet the 27-year-old put those troubles behind her with a 7-5 6-4 defeat of third seed Gauff at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

Badosa almost broke Gauff in the third game, but squandered two break points. However, the Spaniard did get the jump on the 2023 US Open champion to take a 6-5 lead, and she duly served out the set.

She kept up that momentum at the start of the second set, and although Gauff clawed back four break points, Badosa eventually clinched the game at the fifth time of asking.

Badosa lost her composure on serve but immediately hit back, and another break had her serving for the match at 5-2 up.

Yet Gauff responded with some clutch tennis, pulling to within a game of Badosa and threatening an almighty comeback.

Badosa, though, regained her composure, and after a thumping ace teed up match point, a sizzling forehand winner left Gauff with no chance.

4 - Paula Badosa has become only the fourth Spanish player in the Open Era to reach a Women’s Singles semi-final at a Grand Slam event – Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez and Garbine Muguruza. Ready.#AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/cHAjjz4gP5

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 21, 2025

Data Debrief: Badosa breaks her duck

Badosa was featuring in her third major quarter-final, after runs to the last eight at Roland Garros in 2021 and last year's US Open.

Yet she finally got over the line to set up a clash with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

In the process, Badosa became only the fourth Spanish woman in the Open Era to reach a grand slam semi-final, after Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez and Garbine Muguruza.

This victory was also her first at a major against an opponent ranked in the top 10. She had previously lost to Kiki Bertens, Petra Kvitova and Sabalenka.