MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka overcame personal tragedy to secure a victory at the Miami Open, defeating Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-3 in the rain-interrupted second round. Sabalenka, who recently lost former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, requested privacy for herself and Koltsov's family following his tragic passing in Miami on Monday, which authorities have deemed an apparent suicide with no foul play suspected.
The 25-year-old Belarusian, ranked second in the world, had a strong start to the tournament after receiving a first-round bye as one of the 32 seeded players. However, rain delays lasting six hours disrupted the day's schedule, with further rain forcing the cancellation of the remaining matches in the evening, compounded by challenging wind conditions.
