Badosa full of praise for conqueror Sabalenka

PAULA BADOSA insists she was not surprised to crash out of the Miami Open at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka, just days after the death of the Belarusian star’s former boyfriend.

Sabalenka returned to the tennis court after Konstantin Koltsov had died on Monday, in what police described as an apparent suicide.

The two-time and reigning Australian Open champion managed to compose herself at the end of an emotional few days to beat close friend Badosa 6-4, 6-3.

Asked if she was surprised by Sabalenka’s level of play in the circumstances, the Spaniard said: ‘No, I wasn’t surprised at all. As I said, she’s a very, very strong woman, strong personality. You can see it on the court. Especially as I know her off court. It doesn’t surprise me at all.’

Badosa, who had earlier defeated Simona Halep in three sets on Tuesday on the Romanian’s return from her reduced doping ban, explained that she and Sabalenka had spoken at length after Koltsov’s death, the Spanish world No.72 admitting it would be ‘uncomfortable’ to face Sabalenka under these circumstances.

And she certainly struggled more than her opponent in windy conditions before the players shared a long embrace at the end of their match, as the world No 2 set up a third-round clash with Ukraine’s Anhelinha Kalinina.

‘Honestly, both of us are pretty strong mentally,’ Badosa said. ‘We’re strong women. She proved it. I proved it. We knew how to disconnect in that match.

‘She played really well. We’ve been through a lot in our lives, we’re strong women, and we know how to separate that in that moment.’

Sabalenka — dressed, like Badosa, all in black — had been welcomed onto the court to warm applause.

‘I told her,’ said former French Open quarter-finalist Badosa. ‘I wished her well. I hope she goes a long way in the tournament.’