Aryna Sabalenka wins Miami Open match days after death of former partner. How did she do it?

Earlier this week the Belarusian star broke her silence following the death of her former partner, Konstantin Koltsov, but on Friday she went a step further by taking to the court once again. What’s more, is that she maintained her focus to clinch an important win

Aryna Sabalenka secures win days after death of former partner

On Friday, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka began her Miami Open campaign with a solid win and against a close friend to boot. The victory, of course, comes just four days after the death of her former partner Konstantin Koltsov. Following the final play of the match which she won 6-4, 6-3, Sabalenka embraced her opponent and friend Paula Badosa.

Where Sabalenka and Koltsov are concerned, the pair began dating in 2021, however, the relationship is understood to have ended before his death on Monday which was subsequently ruled a suicide by police. The 42-year-old Koltsov had spent three seasons playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL and also represented Belarus at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics. After spending the large majority of his professional career in Russia’s KHL, he began to work as an assistant coach for Russian club Salavat Yulaev Ufa as well as the Belarusan men’s national team.

For her part, Sabalenka publicly addressed Koltsov’s death earlier this week in a statement that was posted to her Instagram stories. The 25-year-old referred to her former partner’s passing as an “unthinkable tragedy” before asking for privacy for both herself and Koltsov’s family. Indeed, despite the win on Friday, it was clear that Sabalenka is still in a fragile state as she embraced Badosa at the net. The two have previously described themselves as “best friends” on the WTA Tour, Badosa even admitting before the match that Koltsov’s death was not easy for her either. After the match, however, she was quick to praise Sabalenka’s focus.

“Well, honestly, both of us are pretty strong mentally. We’re strong women. She proved it. I proved it. We knew how to disconnect in that two hours, one hours and a half of match. She played really well. I played really well for where I’m coming from. I think it was quite decent. That all comes from because we know we’ve been through a lot in our lives, we’re strong women, and we know how to separate that in that moment.” With that, Sabalenka moves on to the Round of 32 where she will face Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.