World number two Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the Miami Open with a comfortable win over Paula Badosa in her first match since the tragic death of her former partner.
On Monday, the 25-year-old's ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov - a Belarusian professional ice hockey player - died at the age of 42 in Florida, in what police have described as an apparent suicide.
Donning an all-black outfit to face good friend Badosa, who had beaten Simona Halep on the Romanian's comeback appearance, Sabalenka strode to a 6-4 6-3 win in one hour and 23 minutes.
After losing serve in the seventh game of the match, Badosa managed to save three set points before Sabalenka converted her fourth, and the world number two quickly broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set.
Badosa fashioned one chance to break back while Sabalenka was serving for the match, but she failed to take it and ceded three match points to the Belarusian while serving to stay in the contest herself.
The Spaniard managed to save one, but an unforced forehand error into the net sent Sabalenka through to round three - where she will face Anhelina Kalinina - before the duo warmly embraced at the net.
Sabalenka and Badosa's contest was just one of 12 singles matches to finish on a rain-affected day in Miami, where Andy Murray and Tomas Martin Etcheverry were level at 3-3 in their opening set before play was halted.
Ben Knapton
