Badosa after her defeat by Sabalenka: "I'm proud of my performance".

Paula Badosa has been eliminated from the Australian Open. The Spaniard, who is gradually recovering from a back injury, will make her return to the top 10 at the end of the tournament.

During the tournament, she eliminated Kostyuk, Danilovic and Gauff before losing to her friend Aryna Sabalenka.

Nonetheless, the former world No. 2 will only remember the good moments of her career, having reached her first ever Grand Slam semi-final.

"It's really very, very positive. I didn't expect to improve so quickly. I haven't checked for all the players, but I think that over the last few months, I must be in the top 5 players to have won the most matches.

For me, that figure and to be back in the top 10 is incredible. The way I've progressed mentally, the way I've continued to believe in myself, it's just crazy.

I've been in the top ten before, but to do it twice, I don't think many players are capable of it.

I'm really proud of myself because it's not easy when you're 100th in the world and you have to face the best players in the world in the first rounds.

I'm proud of how far I've come. Aryna is a player who can hit winning shots from anywhere on the court.

Sometimes you feel like you're running all over the court when you play her," concluded Badosa at the press conference.