Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • PM Modi in Manipur
  • Charlie Kirk killer
  • Sushila Karki
  • IND vs PAK
  • India-US ties
  • New human organ
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Movie Review
fp-logo
Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa in straight sets in first match since ex-boyfriend's death
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa in straight sets in first match since ex-boyfriend's death

Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa in straight sets in first match since ex-boyfriend's death

agence france-presse • March 23, 2024, 11:50:51 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Aryna Sabalenka’s win over Paula Badosa in the Miami Open comes just days after the death of the Belarusian’s former boyfriend and NHL ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Paula Badosa in straight sets in first match since ex-boyfriend's death
Aryna Sabalenka made a slow start to the match but broke to go 4-3 up in the first set and never looked back from that point on. AP

Miami: World number two Aryna Sabalenka returned to the court for the first time since the death of her former boyfriend earlier this week and kept her emotions in check as she beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-3 on Friday. After six hours of rain delays, Sabalenka walked onto the court wearing an all-black outfit, a choice matched by her close friend Badosa.

Two-times Australian Open winner Sabalenka on Wednesday said she was "heartbroken" by the death of former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov in a statement on Wednesday, where she revealed they had not been a couple at the time of his death.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Koltsov died on Monday with Miami police saying he had jumped from the balcony of a room at an resort in an “apparent suicide.” The former NHL ice hockey player and coach, was 42-years-old.

More from Tennis
Why Novak Djokovic’s tennis calendar is under scrutiny as experts fear he could be left behind Federer Why Novak Djokovic’s tennis calendar is under scrutiny as experts fear he could be left behind Federer India's historic tennis win: Sumit Nagal beats Henry Bernet as India reach Davis Cup qualifiers for first time India's historic tennis win: Sumit Nagal beats Henry Bernet as India reach Davis Cup qualifiers for first time

Sabalenka made a slow start to the match but broke to go 4-3 up in the first set and never looked back from that point on.

The Belarusian then broke in the third game of the second set with a superb cross court forehand winner and showed too much power for her Spanish opponent as she wrapped up the win in one hour 22 minutes. The two players embraced at the net before leaving the court without an on-court interview. Sabalenka has asked the WTA to be excused media duties at the tournament.

Badosa said she was not surprised by the way Sabalenka was able to maintain her focus and deliver a solid performance.

“She is a very, very strong woman, strong personality. You can see it on the court…I know her off court so it doesn’t surprise me at all,” she said.

“I knew she was going to play very well or like normal. I told her I wish her the best and let’s see if she can go deep in this tournament,” added the Spaniard.

Badosa had said before the match that she expected it to be “uncomfortable” playing against Sabalenka given her friendship with the Belarusian.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

But she said their professionalism and mental strength had shown itself.

“Honestly, both of us are pretty strong mentally. We’re strong women and she proved it and I proved it,” she said.

“We knew how to disconnect in that two hours for the match. She played really well and I played really well given from where I am coming from (with injuries),” she added.

“All that comes from knowing that we’ve been through a lot in our lives and we’re strong women. We knew how to separate (things) in that moment,” she said.

American Coco Gauff, the third seed, had little trouble in her test against Argentine Nadia Podoroska winning 6-1 6-2 in one hour 16.

In the ATP event, 60th ranked Czech Tomas Machac came out after the long delay to claim his first Top 10 victim, upsetting fifth seeded Russian Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4.

The rain returned later in the evening and play was suspended for the day.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Men’s world number three Jannik Sinner of Italy, the reigning Australian Open champion, was 3-2 up against compatriot Andrea Vavassori when the rain came down and the match will be continued on Saturday.

Tags
Aryna Sabalenka Miami Open Paula Badosa Tennis
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Top Stories

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV