Belarusian tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka said on Wednesday that she was “heartbroken” by the death of her former companion Konstantin Koltsov, who died earlier this week in Florida, specifying that they were no longer together. In a press release released by her agent, the world No.2 indicates that “the death of Konstantin is an unthinkable tragedy”.
“And even though we were no longer together, my heart is broken. Please respect my privacy and the privacy of his family during these difficult times,” she continued. Koltsov, a former Belarusian professional hockey player, died Monday in Miami, “probably by suicide,” police in Miami-Dade County, Florida, announced Tuesday. He was 42 years old.
Sabalenka, 25, is in Miami where she is due to make her debut in the WTA 1000 tournament on Friday. Tournament organizers said Tuesday that she had not requested to be removed from the draw, and that she “intends to play.”
Her future opponent, the Spaniard Paula Badosa, very close to the Belarusian, said she expected an “uncomfortable” match. “I know the situation, I know what’s going on. It’s a bit shocking to me, because she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer,” she said.
Konstantin Koltsov, who played in the NHL, the North American ice hockey championship, had three children with his wife Julia, whom he divorced in 2020 before starting a relationship with Aryna Sabalenka.
