The world number two, Aryna Sabalenka, mourning this week in Miami, was eliminated in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 by the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, 36th player in the world, in the third round of this WTA tournament 1000, Saturday.
Dressed all in black, the Belarusian played her second match since the death of her ex-companion Konstantin Koltsov on Monday,
“probably by suicide”
according to Miami-Dade County police.
The 25-year-old champion threw her racket to the ground several times in anger after her defeat, which occurred in two hours, and left the court without greeting her Ukrainian opponent.
On Friday, Sabalenka managed to win against her Spanish friend Paula Badosa, for her first match since the death of Konstantin Kolstov, a former Belarusian ice hockey player.
If she had not made any statement to the press after this victory, the world number two had previously described
the death of her former companion as an
“unthinkable tragedy” .
“Even though we were no longer together, my heart is broken. Please respect my privacy and the privacy of his family during these difficult times
,” she added.
Aryna Sabalenka also did not speak on Saturday after her match against Kalinina, during which she managed to come back to a set everywhere before collapsing in the decisive set.
“It was really hard nervously. But I managed to manage the difficult moments... so I'm quite proud of myself today
,” reacted her Ukrainian opponent, seeded N.32 who will face Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in the round of 16 (N.68).
Swiatek
“very confident”
At the same time, the world number one, Iga Swiatek, had no difficulty in defeating the Italian Camila Giorgi, in two quick sets (6-2, 6-1).
The Pole will face the young Czech Linda Noskova, 31st in the WTA rankings, in the next round.
“I felt very confident
,” said Swiatek, who has just won the tournament in Indian Wells (California) and currently seems above the rest.
In Miami, where the weather played tricks again on Saturday, the Japanese Naomi Osaka, former queen of the circuit with four Grand Slam titles (between 2018 and 2021), will play for a place in the round of 16 against the French Caroline Garcia , ex world No.4.
Having fallen to 229th place, Osaka seems to be in renewed form and defeated the 17th player in the world, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, on Saturday in two sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
Her opponent in the third round, Caroline Garcia, is coming off a failed tour in the Gulf (defeat in the first round in Abu Dhabi, Doha then Dubai) and an elimination in the round of 16 in Indian Wells.
But the No.23 seed was solid on Saturday against the Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (73rd).
After dispatching the first set 6-1 in 25 minutes, the Frenchwoman led 5-2 in the second set when her opponent gave up due to apparent back pain.
Another tricolor, Océane Dodin (84th), will play the 3rd round in Miami, facing one of the big favorites of the tournament, the American Coco Gauff, 3rd in the world.
Ons Jabeur, seeded number 6, is however already out of the race, after his defeat on Saturday in the second round against the Russian Elina Avanesyan (N.65), in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
The 29-year-old Tunisian has had a difficult start to the season, marked by an early elimination at the Australian Open and then poor performances in Doha and Indian Wells in particular.