In a remarkable display of determination and resilience, Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over her emotions and defeated her good friend Paula Badosa 6-4 6-3 in the second round of the Miami Open, just four days after the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.
Despite facing immense emotional pressure and being under the scrutiny of the media following Koltsov’s passing, which occurred shortly after their breakup, Sabalenka showed remarkable composure on the court. This victory marked her third consecutive win over Badosa in their five career meetings.
Aryna Sabalenka takes to the court in Miami for her match with close friend Paula Badosa 🤝 pic.twitter.com/eO7IpaObPj
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 22, 2024
Both players wore black Nike outfits as they walked onto Grandstand, with Sabalenka’s attire reflecting her mourning period and Badosa’s gesture of solidarity and respect.
In the first set, Sabalenka took a crucial break lead at 3-3 and, despite missing out on converting two set points on her opponent’s serve, the second seed maintained her focus to close out the set in her service game. In the second set, she quickly secured a break and consolidated it with a confident hold, establishing a 3-1 lead. The Belarusian maintained her lead and sealed her victory by breaking Badosa once more in the final game.
In the third round, Sabalenka’s opponent will be seed No.32 Anhelina Kalinina, who defeated Caroline Wozniacki 5-7 7-5 6-4.
