Aryna Sabalenka, aged 25, expressed her profound sorrow over the passing of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.
In a statement released on Wednesday, she clarified that they were not in a relationship when he passed away.
“Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken. Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time,” Sabalenka said in a statement released by her agent.
Konstantin Koltsov passed away on Monday, with the circumstances suggesting suicide. The ex-NHL hockey player turned coach was 42. He and Sabalenka had been in a relationship for more than three years, as reported by the press.
Sabalenka, who has won two Grand Slam titles, is set to compete in the Miami Open’s second round on Friday, facing Paula Badosa of Spain. Badosa, who shares a close bond with Sabalenka, mentioned that playing against each other would be difficult.
“I know the entire situation, what is happening. That for me is a little bit shocking also to go through that because at the end she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It’s a very tough situation. At the same point playing against her, it’s also uncomfortable,” Badosa said, according to Flashscore.
The WTA community has shown solidarity with the Belarusian player. Sabalenka was seen practicing on an external court on Tuesday and seems to have made no plans to pull out of the competition.
Throughout his career, Koltsov played 144 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL from 2003 to 2006. He represented Belarus in two Winter Olympics – 2002 in Salt Lake City and 2010 in Vancouver – and participated in nine world championships.
He was a father to three children with his ex-wife Julia, from whom he separated in 2020, subsequently starting a relationship with Sabalenka.
