Aryna Sabalenka (right) hugged by Paula Badosa near the net after the match
World number two Aryna Sabalenka started her Miami Open campaign after an emotional week with an impressive win over close friend Paula Badosa.
Sabalenka, 25, a two-time Australian Open champion, played in the second round four days after the death of former partner Konstantin Koltsov.
Koltsov, a former ice hockey player, died in Miami at the age of 42 in what police described as an “apparent suicide.”
Sabalenka qualified and defeated Spain's Badosa 6-4, 6-3.
The pair have described themselves as “best friends” on the WTA Tour and shared a long, warm hug online after Belarusian Sabalenka's win to advance to the last 32.
Wearing an all-black uniform and a cap pulled low, Sabalenka looked up at the sky before the pregame coin toss.
Ms Sabalenka said on Wednesday that she was “heartbroken” after Mr Koltsov's death, describing it as an “unthinkable tragedy”.
Her second round match against Badosa was one of the first games scheduled to end on Friday after heavy rain disrupted the schedule.
US Open champion Coco Gauff was another player who secured her victory by easily defeating qualifier Nadia Podoroska of Argentina, winning 6-1, 6-2.
With games not starting in Florida until after 5pm local time, many games have been postponed and are unlikely to end on time.
Britain's former world number one Andy Murray was able to start in his second round match against 30th seed Thomas Martin Etcheverry.
Britain's leading male player, Cameron Norrie, will have to see if he can start after a late start against Italy's Flavio Cobolli, while Britain's second-ranked Jack Draper and 22nd-seeded Chilean Nicolas He has to do that against Jarry.
