Amidst personal tragedy following the shocking passing of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, Aryna Sabalenka’s Miami Open campaign was cut short in the third round at the hands of Anhelina Kalinina. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, and Elena Rybakina all notched up victories.
Just four days after the tragic incident involving her former long-term partner, who fell from the 23rd floor of a hotel in Miami, the second-seeded Sabalenka displayed remarkable resilience by stepping onto the court and securing a straight-sets victory against her close friend Paula Badosa. However, the following match against the 36th-ranked Anhelina Kalinina proved to be a tougher challenge. Sabalenka started strong, taking an early 2-0 lead, but the Ukrainian fought back, eventually clinching a 6-4 1-6 6-1 victory. The loss clearly took its toll on Sabalenka, who vented her frustration by smashing her racket in the closing stage of the match.
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/BJxXnMtcQZ
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) March 24, 2024
Osaka defeated Elina Svitolina in a thrilling second-round blockbuster, winning 6-2 7-6(5). The Japanese swiftly took control of the match, securing the first set with consecutive breaks in the sixth and eighth games. Svitolina missed a crucial break point opportunity early in the second set and allowed Osaka to break her serve in the sixth game to take a commanding lead.
Although Osaka seemed poised for a straightforward victory with a 5-2 lead in the second set, Svitolina staged a remarkable comeback. The Ukrainian fought back, breaking Osaka’s serve and forcing a tiebreak. However, Osaka remained composed, securing a 6-4 lead in the tiebreak and converting her second match point to advance to the third round.
Osaka’s next challenge at the Miami Open promises to be another exciting encounter, as she is set to face 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia for the third time this year. Their previous meetings saw Osaka fall to Garcia at the Australian Open but emerge victorious in Doha, setting the stage for a compelling rematch.
The 2022 Miami Open champion Swiatek dominated her second-round match against Camila Giorgi, winning 6-1 6-1. The top seed’s next opponent will be Linda Noskova, a familiar face on the court. The two have faced off three times, with Noskova proving to be a formidable opponent. Earlier this year, Swiatek suffered a surprising defeat to Noskova at the Australian Open. However, Swiatek got her revenge in Indian Wells, defeating the 19-year-old Czech en route to claiming the title.
The fourth-seeded Rybakina also had a challenging match, narrowly avoiding a shock loss to Taylor Townsend, winning 6-3 6-7(3) 6-4 in the third round.
