At the beginning of the Miami Open first-round match between Paula Badosa and Aliaksandra Sasnovich, neither player could consistently hold serve. It was as if each was waiting for the return game to make an impact. Badosa became the first to manage to hold consistently, and that was the difference in the opening set.
To be sure, though, the former top-10 player isn't in the same form she was a few years ago. She has suffered too many injuries, especially a chronic back issue, which obviously affects her movement. She is still capable of brilliant tennis, but her best days are behind her, through no real fault of her own.
For Sasnovich, she has never won a WTA singles title, but she was playing with pace and rhythm when getting into rallies with Badosa. Few games were easy, and the match could have teetered either way. But a 7-5 first-set win by Badosa set the tone for the match.
Paula Badosa on to the second round of the Miami Open after beating Aliaksandra Sasnovich
The Spaniard was unlikely to drop in form, potentially even lifting her game throughout the match, so much so that Sasnovich would likely take the final two sets. The magic from the match came from never being too certain of that fact. Neither was playing exceedingly well, but neither was playing poorly.
Each was playing with ferocity, though. After getting a break to finish set one, Paula Badosa let out a banshee-like scream that spoke volumes of her will to win. She might at times be frustrated with her form, but she doesn't want to quit. She has too much pride for that.
The constant difference in the match was Badosa's serve, even while she struggled with holding at times. In the first set, she had seven aces and just two double faults, while Sasnovich had one ace but six double faults. Had she served a bit better, the match would have been firmly under her control.
In the second set, Badosa got the break she would need with Sasnovich serving 3-4, and the Spaniard needed a hold to move on to round two of the Miami Masters. Paula Badosa fell 0-30, but as she had done throughout the match, her serve saved her from any real damage.
The game did get to deuce, but Badosa knew that as long as she landed her first serve, she'd probably be fine. She did so and took the second set 6-3. She will next play Iva Jovic in the second round.