Aryna Sabalenka claims emotional win at Miami Open

Paula Badosa praised her friend and opponent as a "strong woman".

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return to Paula Badosa during the Miami Open tennis tournament. Picture: Photo/Lynne Sladky

Aryna Sabalenka claimed a straight-sets victory over Paula Badosa to progress into the last 32 of the Miami Open days after the death of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.

Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka returned to the tennis court after Koltsov died at the age of 42 on Monday in what police described as an "apparent suicide" in Miami.