{"id":24847,"date":"2024-03-22T23:45:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T03:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/miami-open-aryna-sabalenka-beats-paulo-badosa-after-emotional-week-following-death-of-former-boyfriend-konstantin-koltsov-tennis-news\/22\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-22T23:45:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T03:45:02","slug":"miami-open-aryna-sabalenka-beats-paulo-badosa-after-emotional-week-following-death-of-former-boyfriend-konstantin-koltsov-tennis-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/miami-open-aryna-sabalenka-beats-paulo-badosa-after-emotional-week-following-death-of-former-boyfriend-konstantin-koltsov-tennis-news\/22\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paulo Badosa after emotional week following death of former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov | Tennis News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aryna Sabalenka defeated her best friend Paulo Badosa in her first match since the death of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov earlier in the week.<\/p>\n

Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka returned to the tennis court after Koltsov died at the age of 42 on Monday in what police described as an “apparent suicide” in Miami.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka said her “heart is broken” by Koltsov’s death, but she was able to show incredible composure and poise to beat good friend Badosa by a 6-4 6-3 score after an emotional few days.<\/p>\n

Wet weather in Miami resulted in a lengthy delay before play on day three could finally get under way, with Sabalenka welcomed onto the Grandstand court to warm applause.<\/p>\n

Dressed in black and with a baseball cap on, the Belarusian looked up to the sky before she gave Badosa a fist pump at the coin toss with her opponent also kitted out in all-black.<\/p>\n

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Badosa was left applauding Sabalenka’s stunning backhand winner<\/span>
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After a cagey start with the pair exchanging double-faults, Sabalenka forced two break point opportunities in the fifth game but Badosa fought back to hold.<\/p>\n

It was brief respite for the Spaniard, with Sabalenka able to eventually clinch the first break point of the match to move 4-3 up when Badosa sent her return long.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka sealed the first set when her fierce backhand was returned wide to claim a 46-minute opener in windy conditions.<\/p>\n

The pair shared a smile during the second game of set two when a big gust of wind forced Sabalenka to abandon her serve which sparked laughter from the crowd and the world No 2.<\/p>\n

It was soon back to business for the 25-year-old and she broke Badosa again to move 2-1 up.<\/p>\n

Badosa was able to force a break point opportunity of her own in the eighth game of the second set, but Sabalenka responded with a sumptuous winner that earned applause from her opponent.<\/p>\n

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The wind was relentless in Miami as Sabalenka lost her ball during serve but found the funny side<\/span>
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There was no looking back for Sabalenka now and she broke Badosa again to secure a 6-4 6-3 victory before the good friends embraced at the net as the second seed opened her account for the tournament with an emotional win.<\/p>\n

Next up for Sabalenka is a third round clash with Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina<\/strong> after she beat Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Tale of the Tape<\/h3>\n
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Coco Gauff<\/strong> joined Sabalenka in the last 32 with a rapid 6-1 6-2 triumph over Nadia Podoroska.<\/p>\n

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Coco Gauff enjoyed a game of Spikeball with brother Cameron and her team before her rapid win<\/span>
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Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours<\/span>
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Aryna Sabalenka defeated her best friend Paulo Badosa in her first match since the death of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov earlier