‘She’s a strong woman’: players offer support to grieving Aryna Sabalenka

  • World No 2’s boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, died this week
  • Sabalenka due to play best friend Paula Badosa on Thursday

Paula Badosa said it will be “uncomfortable” facing her best friend, Aryna Sabalenka, at the Miami Open after the death of the world No 2’s boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. Sabalenka was pictured on social media practising on Tuesday a day after 42-year-old former ice hockey player Koltsov died in Miami in what police described as an “apparent suicide”.

Her first match is due to be on Thursday against Badosa, who defeated Simona Halep on the Romanian’s return from a doping ban.

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Simona Halep defeated by Paula Badosa in Miami on return from doping ban

  • Former world No 1 loses 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 at Miami Open
  • Cas recently reduced four-year ban to nine months

Five hundred and sixty-eight days after she last struck a ball in a match of any consequence, Simona Halep returned to professional tennis from her shortened doping ban. The comeback came in a tough, gruelling battle that resulted in a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss against Paula Badosa of Spain in the first round of the Miami Open.

Despite the defeat, the former No 1’s performance marks a first step back as she tries to return to the top level of the sport. Halep has not competed since she lost to Daria Snigur in the first round of the 2022 US Open – she tested positive for roxadustat after that match.

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Konstantin Koltsov, former Belarusian NHL player, dies aged 42

  • Koltsov was the boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka
  • Olympian played for Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002-06

Konstantin Koltsov, the Belarusian former pro ice hockey player and boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has died at the age of 42, the Russian club Salavat Yulaev announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Forward Koltsov played for the Belarus national team in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and spent parts of three seasons with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 and 2006.

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Emma Raducanu pulls out of Miami Open with lower back injury

  • Briton was due to face China’s Wang Xiyu in first round
  • Late withdrawal another injury setback for 21-year-old

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Miami Open on the eve of the joint ATP and WTA 1000 tournament due to a lower back injury.

Raducanu had hoped to build on her positive performances at Indian Wells over the last two weeks and she had been handed a fair draw, with a first-round meeting against Wang Xiyu of China and the winner facing Anna Kalinskaya, the 22nd seed, in the second round.

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Simona Halep happy to return but stark contrast in judgments baffles | Tumaini Carayol

As she warms up in Miami, we don’t know why the court of arbitration for sport ruled so differently to the original tribunal

For a player of her stature, a former world No 1 for 64 weeks and a two-time grand slam champion, Simona Halep has often preferred to conduct her work in peace and remain outside of the spotlight. But all eyes will be on her this week as she makes her return to professional tennis for the first time in 19 months at the Miami Open after the court of arbitration for sport (Cas) reduced her four-year ban for intentional doping to nine backdated months, ruling that she was not guilty of intentional doping and allowing her to return to the court immediately.

The Romanian will begin with a notable first round match in Miami against Paula Badosa, a former world No 2, but a win would lead to a certified headline battle. Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and current world No 2, awaits the winner.

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Alcaraz beats Medvedev to claim Indian Wells title – video

Carlos Alcaraz retained his Indian Wells title with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over Daniil Medvedev, the fourth seed. Early in the final it was Medvedev who soared, establishing a 3-0 lead as Alcaraz’s errors mounted. But the Spaniard found his range and after narrowly closing out a first set tie-break Alcaraz completed a spectacular triumph. The 20-year-old is just the second player to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21, after Rafael Nadal, and has won 13 tour titles.

Watch all ATP Tour matches in your region here: https://go.watchtenn.is/atp

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Iga Swiatek steams past Maria Sakkari to take second Indian Wells title – video highlights

Iga Swiatek won the Indian Wells title for a second time by dominating Greece's Maria Sakkari, the ninth seed, 6-4, 6-0. It is the world No 1’s second WTA 1000 title of the year after she won in Doha last month. The 22‑year‑old from Poland has now won 19 titles ­overall, including eight WTA 1000 events alongside her four grand slam titles and last year's first WTA Finals victory.

Watch all ATP Tour matches in your region here

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Can Djokovic still find warrior energy to battle Sinner and Alcaraz generation? | Sean Ingle

Tennis great is not feared as he was and will need to recalibrate to overcome Sinner and Alcaraz in this year’s grand slams

The greatest light-heavyweight of them all, Archie Moore, was 47 and still champion of the world when he explained better than anyone – before or since – why so many sporting immortals refuse to go gently into the good night.

At this point the siren call of family and the easy life was deafening. Moore also knew his wife yearned for him to retire, and he adored spending time with his young daughters “lest they forget that love and life go hand in hand”. Yet the mere thought of fighters half his age wanting his belts stirred the warrior in him once more.

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Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slow start to beat Medvedev for Indian Wells title

  • Spaniard beats Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1 in California
  • Alcaraz’s first title since winning Wimbledon last year

After the freedom and ease of his historic first years on tour, in recent months Carlos Alcaraz has felt the pressure of his elevated status. He has struggled at times with his game, head, body and even with the less-than-charitable comments from those praying for his downfall.

It was only a matter of time, though, before he found his way again, as he did on Sunday by successfully defending his Indian Wells title with a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over Daniil Medvedev, the fourth seed.

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Iga Swiatek swats aside Maria Sakkari for second Indian Wells triumph

  • World No 1 beats Greek ninth seed 6-4, 6-0
  • Biggest win of year so far for the Pole and 19th in her career

Iga Swiatek continued to distance herself from all rivals at the top of the WTA tour as she clinched the Indian Wells title for a second time by dominating Maria Sakkari, the ninth seed, 6-4, 6-0. It is the world No 1’s second WTA 1000 title of the year after she won in Doha last month.

No player on the WTA has swept up significant titles at this rate since Serena Williams was ranked No 1. The 22‑year‑old has now won eight WTA 1000 titles alongside her four grand slam titles and first WTA Finals victory last year, with 19 titles ­overall. Her imperious record in finals also endures; since losing her first in 2019, she has now won 19 of her past 22.

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Iga Świątek brushes aside Marta Kostyuk to cruise into Indian Wells final

  • World No 1 beats Ukrainian 6-2, 6-1 in BNP Paribas Open semi-final
  • Coco Gauff faces Maria Sakkari for second spot in women’s decider

Top seed Iga Świątek produced a near-flawless performance to cruise past Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 and into the Indian Wells final on Friday, remaining on track for her second title of the year.

The 22-year-old Pole could take on US Open champion Coco Gauff in an intriguing title clash if the third-seeded American can beat ninth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece in the second semi-final.

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Bee invasion forces Alcaraz and Zverev off the court at Indian Wells – video

Defending BNP Paribas Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and sixth seed Alexander Zverev were forced off the court for more than an hour by a swarm of bees during their quarter-final match in Indian Wells. With the Spaniard serving at 1-1 in the first set the bees invaded the court area, stands and covered cameras

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Carlos Alcaraz survives bee invasion to set up Indian Wells semi-final with Jannik Sinner

  • Players ran for cover as bees swarmed court and cameras
  • Spaniard defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 after two hour delay

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has survived a swarm of bees to defeat sixth seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-1 after their BNP Paribas Open quarter-final was delayed for nearly two hours on Thursday night.

With the Spaniard serving at 1-1 in the first set the bees invaded the court area, stands and covered cameras in Indian Wells.

The umpire Mohamed Lahyani suspended the match and the players retreated into the tunnel, swatting bees away as they went.

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