It was a moment few but the closest of tour companions would entertain so soon after such a defeat with so much at stake.

“[I told her] that it was really unfair for me that she played this level today,” Badosa grinned. “I was expecting, of course, a good level, but maybe not that much.

READ: Sabalenka sweeps past Badosa into third straight AO final

“But no, she came to say that she played three semifinals before she won a title. She was very proud of my improvement lately, especially with all I’ve been through.

“So we were just joking around. I’m really happy that… look, if I have to lose against somebody, of course I want to lose against world No.1 and against Aryna, and I wish her the best.”

At 27 years old and in her first Grand Slam semifinal, it started so promisingly for the 11th seed, who was coming off her maiden top-10 win at a major over Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals.

If there were nerves in her first night match at this arena, they did not show early as she stood toe-to-toe with the two-time champion from the back of the court and held points for 3-0.

Despite Badosa’s best efforts, it merely stirred the hornet’s nest as Sabalenka soon turned the screw and surged home.

“I was playing good. I mean, the first set was really tight, a good level. Then in the second set she started to be very, very aggressive,” she said.

“Everything was working. Everything she was doing today, touching today, could become gold … I mean, of course credits to her, congratulations to her. She played the best match not even of the week, from the last months, for sure. If she plays like this, I mean, we can already give her the trophy.”