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0 Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has won her first match since the death of her ex-partner, Konstantin Koltsov this week.
Playing close friend Paula Badosa in the Miami Open, Sabalenka was able to put her emotions aside to win in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
The pair shared a warm embrace at the net following their second-round match. Sabalenka received a bye in the first round.
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Although she was spotted practising on Tuesday only hours after Koltsov’s death, tournament organisers gave her some extra time to prepare by pushing her match back a day.
The rest of her quarter of the draw finished their matches on Friday morning (AEDT).
Sabalenka received a warm round of applause from the small crowd – the match was delayed a further six hours due to heavy rain – when she arrived on court.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, she was scrappy early on – double faulting on numerous occasions early in the first set.
But she eventually settled, and won the first break thanks to a fortuitous let cord. She was able to serve out the set comfortably.
Sabalenka appeared to be in good spirits, at one point bursting out laughing when a gust of wind in the middle of her serving motion blew the ball well off-course.
Police in Miami believe Koltsov, 42, died of an “apparent suicide” and that “no foul play is suspected”.
In a post to her Instagram story, Sabalenka described his death as “an unthinkable tragedy”, but revealed they had split before his death.
As is customary in the Orthodox church, Sabalenka was dressed in all-black – as was Badosa.
Sabalenka will face Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina – who defeated Caroline Wozniaki in three sets – in the third round tomorrow (AEDT).
