Miami: Aryna Sabalenka, returning to the court for the second time in as many days after the apparent suicide of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, had a difficult and emotional week that ended Saturday with a 6-4, 1 -6, 6- 1 defeat against Anhelina Kalinina.
After a gutsy second-round win Friday over good friend Paula Badosa, the world No. 2 appeared to have little left in the tank physically, mentally or emotionally for a late-night battle on the stadium court against the Ukrainian Kalinina. When her return gave Kalinina the match, the 25-year-old Belarusian lowered her head, took a few steps and then became angry, expressing her frustration by smashing her racket into pieces on center court. With the racket destroyed, she then turned around and left the court without shaking hands with the Ukrainian.
“It’s always difficult to play on big stages against these top players,” Kalinina said. “Today was really tough with the nerves, but I managed to deal with it in the tough times. So I’m a little proud of myself today.”
The result and the blowout are hardly a surprise at the end of a pressure-filled week for the Australian Open champion. Sabalenka released a brief statement Wednesday saying her “heart has been broken” by the “unthinkable tragedy” but has otherwise stayed out of the spotlight. The statement was also the first mention since the couple’s separation tragedy.
Miami-Dade police confirmed Tuesday that they responded to a call the day before at a Miami resort regarding reports of a man jumping from a balcony. Police said no foul play was suspected.
Koltsov, 42, played for the Belarusian national team at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and spent parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 2003 and 2006. The news of Koltsov’s death sent shockwaves to the Miami Open as Sabalenka’s comrade. players rallied behind her, including her opponent Badosa.
Sabalenka had her emotions in perfect control and slowly regained her form in a 6-4, 6-3 win over Badosa, but slowly collapsed against Kalinina and could never regain her composure. His usually reliable forehand never consistently hit the target while hitting six double faults against just three aces.
“I missed a lot of chances, she started playing more aggressively in the second set,” Kalinina said. “I think she really played, she stepped in and made incredible rallies, very fast. But in the third set, yes, I was also more aggressive. That was my goal.”
