Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka won her first match since the death of her ex-spouse on Friday, beating Spaniard Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of the Miami tournament.
Sabalenka returned to action, just four days after the suicide of former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, aged 42, with whom she was in a relationship.
“She is a very strong woman, a very strong personality. It shows on the court… I know her off the court and it doesn’t surprise me,” said Badosa, about the way Sabalenka was able to concentrate on tennis.
“I knew she would play very well, or at least as well as usual. I told her I wish her the best, we’ll see if she can go far in the tournament. »
The second seed had obtained a bye for the first round of the tournament.
Rain delayed the start of the matches by six hours before forcing an interruption in the early evening.
Sabalenka needed just 1:23 to defeat Badosa.
In one of the other completed matches in the women’s draw, reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff crushed Nadia Podoroska 6-1, 6-2. Gauff is the third seed for the tournament.
Emma Navarra beat Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-3 and Ekaterina Alexandrova beat Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4.
Among the men, Andrey Rublev lost 6-4, 6-4 against Tomas Machac.
Ugo Humbert won 6-4, 6-3 against Botic Van de Zandschulp.
2024-03-23 01:15:38
#WTA #Aryna #Sabalenka #wins #match #death #exspouse
