Aryna Sabalenka makes the tennis court her refuge in Miami

A long week for Aryna Sabalenka got a little bit longer on Friday at the Miami Open.

Her trip to South Florida had begun in shocking fashion, with the death of her ex-partner Konstantin Koltsov, a 42-year-old former professional hockey player, who the police believe committed suicide by jumping from a hotel balcony in the city on Monday. Sabalenka decided to stay in the tournament, but asked for an extra day before she played her opening-round match against Paula Badosa. She ended up getting more time than she bargained for, as rain delayed play for six hours.

When the two women stepped on to the Grandstand for the coin toss at 5:00 P.M., they looked happy, in a punchy sort of way, to finally have a match to play. Sabalenka and Badosa are good friends, and they shared a laugh and slapped hands across the net before heading to their respective baselines to start the warm-up. There was a sense that Sabalenka had to do whatever she could—laugh, hit tennis balls, get back to her day job—to block out the emotions from what she called the “unspeakable tragedy” of Koltsov’s passing.

For the next hour and 20 minutes, Sabalenka would block out those emotions better than anyone could have reasonably expected. She and Badosa had split their previous four matches 2-2, but this time Sabalenka was in charge from start to finish. She hit her serve with force, and showed no signs of the yips that have plagued her in the past, even on this gusty day. She leaned into her ground strokes, especially her backhand, and never hesitated to take the initiative in the rallies. She was confident and decisive at the net, as well as when she served out the first set at 5-4. She made 76 percent of her first serves, faced just one break point, and played with a focus and efficiency that we haven’t seen from her since her title run at the Australian Open.

At the same time, the punchiness that both players showed at the coin toss continued. Sabalenka laughed at her futile attempt to hit a serve in the wind. Badosa smiled, dropped her racquet, and put her hands over her face after giving up on a Sabalenka shot, only to find out it had caught the outside millimeter of the sideline.

Sabalenka has asked for privacy this week, and isn’t talking to the media. It was left to Badosa to speak for both of them before this match.

“She’s one of my best friends,” the Spaniard said. “Of course, I know what she’s going through. Honestly, it hasn’t been easy for me, too. She’s a strong woman, I think she’ll get her power from somewhere.”

This isn’t the first time Sabalenka has suffered a shocking loss. Five years ago, her father and first coach, Sergey, who was also an ice hockey player, died at 43. She has had her ups and down since, but she has been inspired by his memory, and worked hard to fulfill his dreams for her. In the case of Koltsov’s death, maybe the tennis court will feel like a refuge for her. That’s how it looked on Friday.

After the final point, Sabalenka and Badosa, both in black kits, hugged and shared more smiles and words at the net. Then Sabalenka walked off alone, somberly, with her head down. Hopefully she can stay on court, and do what she does best, for as long as possible in Miami.