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World number two Aryna Sabalenka started her Miami Open campaign after an emotional week with an impressive win over close friend Paula Badosa.<\/b><\/p>\n
Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka, 25, played her second-round match four days after the death of former partner Konstantin Koltsov.<\/p>\n
Koltsov, an ex-ice hockey player, died in Miami aged 42 in what police described as an “apparent suicide”.<\/p>\n
Belarusian Sabalenka won 6-4 6-3 against Spain’s Badosa.<\/p>\n
They have described themselves as “best friends” on the WTA Tour, and shared a long and warm hug at the net after Sabalenka reached the last 32.<\/p>\n
Wearing an all-black kit and a cap pulled down low, Sabalenka looked up to the sky before the pre-match coin toss.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday she said her “heart is broken” after Koltsov’s death and described it as “an unthinkable tragedy”.<\/p>\n
Her meeting with Badosa was one of the first matches to be completed on Friday after heavy rain disrupted the schedule.<\/p>\n
US Open champion Coco Gauff beat Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska 6-1 6-2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n