Amidst personal tragedy following the shocking passing of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, Aryna Sabalenka’s Miami Open campaign was cut short in the third round at the hands of Anhelina Kalinina. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, and Elena Rybakina all notched up victories.
Just four days after the tragic incident involving her former long-term partner, who fell from the 23rd floor of a hotel in Miami, the second-seeded Sabalenka displayed remarkable resilience by stepping onto the court and securing a straight-sets victory against her close friend Paula Badosa. However, the following match against the 36th-ranked Anhelina Kalinina proved to be a tougher challenge. Sabalenka started strong, taking an early 2-0 lead, but the Ukrainian fought back, eventually clinching a 6-4 1-6 6-1 victory. The loss clearly took its toll on Sabalenka, who vented her frustration by smashing her racket in the closing stage of the match.
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/BJxXnMtcQZ
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) March 24, 2024
Osaka defeated Elina Svitolina in a thrilling second-round blockbuster, winning 6-2 7-6(5). The Japanese swiftly took control of the match, securing the first set with consecutive breaks in the sixth and eighth games. Svitolina missed a crucial break point…
