Sabalenka up against 'best friend' Badosa for last-16 spot in Paris

A friendship will briefly be put on hold on Saturday when Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa of Spain go head to head in the third round of the French Open.

The pair will be meeting for the seventh time in their careers and the third time this year, with two-times Australian Open champion Sabalenka having emerged victorious in their last four encounters.

"It's always tough to play your friend, your best friend on tour, I would say," Sabalenka said.

"It's always tough, but we know how to manage that. We know how to separate court and life. So it's always a great battle, great fight against her. I always enjoy playing against her."

Sabalenka added that it was easier to maintain a friendship on the modern WTA Tour, saying the circuit had become a more friendly place than it was at times in the past.

Asked about the intense rivalry between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova which took centre stage in the women's game for over a decade, the world number two told reporters: "I would say that right now top-10 players, we are all good with each other.

"There aren't big fights outside of the court. Of course, on the court we are opponents, but off court we can talk, we can have fun. Not like we are best friends, but it's not something crazy, like intense."

For her part, former world number two Badosa, who has fallen out of the WTA's top 100 after a string of injuries, said she was just happy to be back competing against top players like Sabalenka.

"I think it's going to be fun," Badosa told reporters after her second-round comeback win over Yulia Putintseva.

"Sharing the court with her after all these results she's had is a pleasure for me, because this past year hasn't been easy. Playing these kinds of matches, it makes it all