Emotional Aryna unravels
Star apparently feeling the strain of traumatic week
MIAMI — A difficult week for world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka came to an end with a third-round, threeset loss in the Miami Open to Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina on Saturday.
The 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win for the 36thranked Kalinina prompted Sabalenka, who had kept her emotions in check through both of her previous matches at Hard Rock Stadium, to smash her racket violently three times into the court and she walked off without a handshake with her opponent.
On Monday, Belarusian Sabalenka’s former boyfriend, ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, died in Miami after what police called an “apparent suicide”.
The pair had been in a relationship until recently and Sabalenka only announced they were no longer together following the death.
On Friday, she looked in control as she defeated her close friend Paula Badosa of Spain in straight sets on the grandstand court.
But given the late slot on the main court, Sabalenka looked to be feeling the strain more as she struggled for any kind of consistency.
After a gutsy second-round win on Friday over good friend Badosa, the world No 2 appeared to have little left in the tank physically, mentally or emotionally for the late-night battle with Kalinina.
When a return sailed wide to give Kalinina the match, the 25-year-old Sabalenka bowed her head, took a few steps then flew into a rage, venting her frustration by smashing her racket to pieces on the court.
With the racket destroyed, she then turned and walked off court without shaking the Ukrainian’s hand.
World No 1 Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1 as the rain-hit tournament packed in the big names including postponed matches from Friday.
“I was feeling really pretty confident and I just wanted to see how I’m going to feel the surface. It was all really comfortable, so I’m happy,” said Swiatek.
Japan’s Noami Osaka continued her increasingly impressive form with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over 17thranked Elina Svitolina, in a battle of two women who have returned to the tour after giving birth.
Sixth-seed Ons Jabeur suffered an upset against 21-year-old Russian Elina Avanesyan, ranked 65th in the world, running out a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 winner.
Carlos cruises
In the ATP event, top seed Carlos Alcaraz was simply too much for fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena as he powered to a 6-2, 6-1 win in 85 minutes.
Like Swiatek, Alcaraz is looking to complete the “Sunshine Double” after his recent victory at Indian Wells, and the two-time Grand Slam champion looked in formidable form.
The 20-year-old was in top from the start, powerful from the baseline but willing to approach the net as he hit 10 winners to his opponent’s one in the opening set.
Alcaraz saved all three break points that he faced against the 64th-ranked Carballes Baena, who asked some tough questions at times but usually received an emphatic response.
Alcaraz will next face the winner of the contest between France’s Gael Monfils and Australian Jordan Thompson.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open champion ranked third in the world, made a confident start to his bid in Miami with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot and qualifier Andrea Vavassori.
Progress was also straightforward for defending champion Daniil Medvedev who advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.
Britain’s Andy Murray, a two-time winner in Miami, reached the third round with a 7-6 (0), 6-3 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.