Aryna Sabalenka beats best friend Paula Badosa in straight sets at French Open

Aryna Sabalenka beat her best friend Paula Badosa to reach the fourth round of the French Open.

Second seed Sabalenka edged a tight first set against the former world number two, and then ran away with the second to win 7-5 6-1.

The pair embraced warmly at the net, and Sabalenka said: “It’s tough to play your best friend.”

Spaniard Badosa clinched the first break early in the opening set courtesy of an outrageous net cord which bounced twice on the top of the net before flopping into Sabalenka’s side of the court.

But Sabalenka cranked up the power and punished a couple of Badosa second serves to haul herself level.

Further breaks were exchanged until 6-5, where suddenly holding serve held the key and Sabalenka managed to do so to take the first set.

The second set did not match the first as Sabalenka raced into a 4-0 lead before wrapping up the victory in an hour and 17 minutes.

The win, the hug