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MIAMI. — Paula Badosa spoiled Simona Halep’s return from a doping ban, fighting back to claim a gritty 1-6 6-4 6-3 win on Tuesday to move into the second round of the Miami Open and set up what is sure to be an emotion-packed match with Aryna Sabalenka.

Halep had been the player in the spotlight coming into Miami accepting a wild card when her four-year suspension was cut to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

But the focus quickly shifted to Sabalenka after the world number two’s long-time boyfriend, Belarusian former pro ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, died in what police said on Tuesday was an “apparent suicide”.

If Badosa was having a tough time dealing with Halep it will be nothing compared to the mental challenge she will confront in her next match today or tomorrow when she faces Sabalenka, someone she calls her best friend.— Reuters