Achi news desk-
Aryna Sabalenka claimed a straight sets victory over Paula Badosa to advance to the last 32 of the Miami Open after the death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.
Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka returned to the tennis court after Koltsov died aged 42 on Monday in what police described as an “apparent suicide” in Miami.
Koltsov’s death led Sabalenka to reveal her “heart is broken”, but she managed to show incredible desire and poise to beat her good friend Badosa 6-4 6-3 after an emotional few days.
Wet weather in Miami led to a long delay before play on the third day finally began, and Sabalenka was welcomed to the Grandstand court to applaud the applause.
Dressed in black and wearing a baseball cap, the Belarusian looked up to the sky before she gave Badosa a fist pump at the coin toss with her opponent also dressed in all black.
After a slow start with the pair exchanging two faults, Sabalenka forced two break point opportunities in the fifth game but Badosa fought back to hold.
It was a short break for the Spaniard, with Sabalenka eventually able to grab the first break point of the match to move 4-3 up when Badosa sent her back long.
Sabalenka sealed the first set when her fierce backhand was returned wide to claim a 46-minute opener in windy conditions.
The pair shared a smile during the second set of set two when a strong wind forced Sabalenka to drop her serve which prompted laughter from the crowd and the world number two.
It was soon back to business for the 25-year-old and she broke Badosa again to move 2-1 up.
Badosa forced a break point chance of her own in the eighth game of the second set, but Sabalenka responded with a sumptuous winner that earned her opponent applause.
Sabalenka Badosa broke again to secure victory before the good friends hugged at the net as the second seed opened her account for the tournament with an emotional win.
Sabalenka is understandably not undertaking media duties after the match but Badosa praised her friend and opponent as a “strong woman”.
“Honestly, we’re both pretty strong mentally,” Badosa said. “We are strong women. She proved it. i experienced We knew how to disconnect in that game.
“She played very well. I played very well where I come from (following injury). I think it’s pretty decent.
“All of that comes because we know we’ve been through a lot in our lives, we’re strong women, and we know how to separate that in that moment.”
Asked if she was surprised by Sabalenka’s level of play under the circumstances, Badosa added: “No, I wasn’t surprised at all. As I said, she is a very, very strong woman, a strong personality. You can see it on the court. Especially I know her off the court. It doesn’t surprise me at all.
“I knew she was going to play very well or as normal. I told her I wished her the best. We’ll see if she can go really deep in this tournament.”
Next up for Sabalenka is a third round clash with Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina after she beat Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.
Coco Gauff joined Sabalenka in the last 32 with a quick 6-1 6-2 win over Nadia Podoroska.
Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek were among a host of big names whose scheduled matches were postponed until Saturday due to heavy rain.
