Paula Badosa’s Miami Open draw is challenging in many different ways. Not only are the Spaniard’s first two opponent former top-ranked players, but the clashes carry substantial emotional weight.
In her opener, Badosa faced Simona Halep, who was making a highly anticipated return to tennis following a doping ban. The world No.80 Badosa triumphed in this challenging encounter, setting the stage for her next match against Aryna Sabalenka. However, the upcoming clash with the second seed is imbued with profound emotion as the Belarusian is coping with the sudden and tragic loss of her longtime boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.