There’s an oft-quoted expression in Spain – “a la tercera va la vencida” – to which Grand Slam semifinal debutant Paula Badosa subscribes.
It loosely translates to “third time’s a charm”, the perfect omen and addendum to the Spaniard’s stunning 7-5 6-4 upset of world No.3 Coco Gauff at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
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Having fallen short in two prior major quarterfinal ventures, at Roland Garros in 2021 and Flushing Meadows last year, the 11th seed held unshakeable belief she was destined for more at her favourite Slam this time round.
After a momentary wobble serving for a last-four berth, the 27-year-old found her best under the pump at the second time of asking for her maiden top-10 win at this level and dropped to her knees in relief at Rod Laver Arena.
There was no more apt sign-off on the courtside camera lens as she departed to a standing ovation.
“It was my third quarterfinals, and I don't know. The last two were, like, I didn't leave with a good feeling, so today I didn't want to do that,” Badosa said.
“Even though win or lose, I wanted to go for it and be aggressive and play my game and don't have regrets. That was my plan since the first minute I stepped on the court.”
Less than a year ago, Badosa languished at 140th in the world, hindered by a chronic back injury, which seriously threatened her playing future.
While she had split six previous meetings with the American, she succumbed from a set up in both encounters last year.
Badosa accepted she was still a work in progress at the time and drew on the lessons learnt.
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“The last two times I played against her, and of course it was on my mind, I was a set and a break up,” she said.
“The last two times she brought her level very high, even better when she was down. So I was quite expecting that from her side, especially in the 5-2, because I didn't do anything wrong. She just played unreal.
“[At] 5-2 I was a little bit nervous. But 5-4 up I tried to stay calm and to focus a little bit on my serve. I know she didn't break me much. Just two times in the match.
“I'm, like, if you serve well, you're going to have your chances here … I stopped thinking a little bit [about] Coco and the match and the entire atmosphere, and I was with myself. I think I served really, really well there.”
One of those defeats last season came during a stretch in which Gauff completely turned around her season.
Following a grim couple of months from Wimbledon to the US Open, the American dominated the back end of 2024 and became the youngest player since Monica Seles in 1992-1993 to start a season with nine straight wins this year.
For that streak to hit double figures, she needed to break her opponent twice to keep the second set alive and despite summoning the grit for which she is renowned, it was not enough against Badosa’s bold finish.
“I fought until the end, so I think that's something … Some matches are going to go my way, some are not,” Gauff said.
“I think it's one of those things that maybe a couple of years ago I would feel a lot more crushed and feel like the world is ending type sadness, but now I think it's just disappointed that I could have done a little bit better in some areas.”
Uncharted territory awaits Badosa and a showdown in which friendship may need to be cast aside should two-time reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka deny Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
While it was third-time lucky in the quarterfinals, the job is far from complete.
“I'm never going to feel freedom until I win the tournament,” she said. “I'm always like this. It's my personality. It's my character.
“Today, of course, maybe I had a little bit less expectations, but I still had pressure because I wanted to win so badly.
“I will step on the court in the semifinals, I don't care against who, and I will want to win so badly. That's part of me.”