“It will be uncomfortable”. This is how the Spanish defined Paula Badosa the match that fate put in front of him after advancing this Tuesday to the second round of the WTA 1,000 from Miamiwhere she will face her best friend Aryna Sabalenkawho suffered the tragic death of her boyfriend in the early hours of Monday and also decided to continue with her participation in the tournament.
Badosa defeated Simona Halepin a match also with emotional charge, because the 32-year-old Romanian was playing her first match since the US Open 2022, thanks to getting a reduction of a sanction he was serving for dopingafter an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Spaniard, a very close friend of Sabalenka, stated after the victory with sets of 1-6, 6-4 and 6-3 that He had spoken with the Belarusian woman after Koltsov’s death became known.
“I don’t want to talk about it. But of course (I talked to her). She’s one of my best friends. Yesterday I talked to her for a long time, this morning the same thing. So I know what she’s going through.”Badosa said at a press conference.
“I know the whole situation, what is happening. For me it is also shocking to go through this because in the end she is my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It is a very hard situation”complete.
Badosa acknowledged that “playing against her is also uncomfortable,” although he clarified that he did not want to talk about it because he had promised her.
Sabalenka, world number two, appeared at the tournament headquarters this Tuesday afternoon and practiced on one of the outdoor courts. According to the organizers, the tennis player’s intention is to play the tournament.
“She is a strong woman. I think she will draw strength from somewhere. I hope it will be a battle, a good match and we will see”Badosa commented.
The Spaniard, who previously occupied second place in the WTA ranking, is currently ranked 80th in the rankings, after going through an injury-plagued 2023.
Venus Williams lost to a 19-year-old Russian
The Danish Carolina Wozniacki also debuted with victory at the WTA 1,000 in Miami, on a day in which Venus Williams43, said goodbye when she fell against the Russian Diana Shnaider, just 19.
Wozniacki, another major winner and former world number one, defeated Frenchwoman Clara Burel 6-1, 6-4.
The Danish player will face the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in the second round.
On the other hand, Venus Williams said goodbye at the first opportunity, who faced a rival who had not even been born when the legendary American player won her first title in Miami (1998).
Williams lost 6-3, 6-3 in a match also attended by her sister Serena Williams.
The tournament also lost to Argentina Maria Lourdes Carlécoming from the classifications, defeated by the Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova (6-3 and 6-3).
Cristina Bucsa (n.74) also failed to advance, losing 6-2, 3-6 and 6-4 against the Kazakh Yulia Putintseva (n.68).
The WTA 1,000 in Miami runs until March 31 with Poland’s Iga Swiatek as the first favorite.
The new Indian Wells champion will debut directly in the second round against one between the Polish Magdalena Frech and the Italian Camila Giorgi and has a third round on the horizon with the Czech Linda Noskova.