© Getty Images Sport – Al Bello
Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat to Anhelina Kalinina in the Miami Open third round after personal tragedy and the death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, while Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina enjoyed victorious days at the office.
On Saturday – four days after her ex-boyfriend Koltsov suddenly died at 42 by apparent suicide – Sabalenka came out again wearing an all-black outfit. But unlike a day earlier when Sabalenka beat Badosa, today wasn’t her day as the world No. 2 wasn’t anywhere near her best level and 32nd-seeded Kalinina took full advantage of it, upsetting the Belarusian 6-4 1-6 6-1. Moments after the match was over, Sabalenka smashed her racket several times.
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/BJxXnMtcQZ
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) March 24, 2024
On the other side, Osaka defeated Elina Svitolina in a Miami second-round blockbuster 6-2 7-6 (5) while top-seeded Swiatek demolished Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-1 in their Miami third-round match. Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Rybakina survived a major scare as she managed to edge out world No. 72 Taylor Townsend 6-3 6-7 (3) 6-4 and avoid a shock loss in the Miami third round.
When it comes to the Sabalenka and Kalinina match, the No. 2 seed got off to a…
