Paula Badosa foiled Halep’s return and will face Sabalenka in Miami after her boyfriend’s tragic death: ‘It will be uncomfortable’

“It will be uncomfortable”. This is how the Spaniards defined it Paola Badosa the match that fate put in front of him after passing this Tuesday to the second round of the Miami WTA 1,000where 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 full of emotions, because the 32-year-old Romanian was playing her first match since the US Open 2022, thanks to a reduction of the sanction he was serving for dopingafter an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Spaniard, a very good friend of Sabalenka, declared after the victory with sets of 1-6, 6-4 and 6-3 that He spoke to 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’s going on through.”Badosa said this at the press conference.

“I know the whole situation, what’s going on. It’s shocking for me too to go through all this because at the end of the day she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It’s a very difficult situation.”complete.

Badosa acknowledged that “even playing against her is 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 venue this Tuesday afternoon and trained 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”– commented Badosa.

The Spaniard, who previously occupied second place in the WTA rankings, is currently 80th in the rankings, having endured an injury-plagued 2023.

Venus Williams lost to a 19 year old Russian

The Dane Carolina Wozniacki she also debuted with the victory at the WTA 1,000 in Miami, on a day in which Venus Williams43 years old, he said goodbye when he clashed with the Russian Diana Shnaider, just 19 years old.

Wozniacki, another major winner and former world number one, defeated France’s Clara Burel 6-1, 6-4.

The Dane will face Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in the second round.

On the other hand, Venus Williams said goodbye at the first opportunity, facing a rival who wasn’t even born when the legendary American player won her first title in Miami (1998).

Williams lost 6-3, 6-3 in a match also featuring her sister Serena Williams.

The tournament also lost to Argentina Maria Lourdes Carlecoming from the rankings, 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 Kazakh Yulia Putintseva (n.68).

The WTA 1,000 in Miami will last until March 31st with Polish Iga Swiatek as the first favorite.

The new Indian Wells champion will make her debut directly in the round of 16 against the Polish Magdalena Frech and the Italian Camila Giorgi and has a third round on the horizon with the Czech Linda Noskova.