Follow usAryna Sabalenka, the world number two in tennis, addressed the tragic death of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, for the first time on Wednesday, describing it as an “unthinkable tragedy.”
Miami-Dade police confirmed on Tuesday that they had responded to a call at a Miami resort regarding reports of a man jumping off a balcony the previous day. They stated that no foul play was suspected in the incident.
The news of Koltsov’s apparent suicide sent shockwaves through the Miami Open, where Sabalenka is set to play her opening match on Friday against Paula Badosa.
“Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken,” Sabalenka expressed in a statement through her publicists. “Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Sabalenka’s IG Story 👇 pic.twitter.com/P9kSiFrcMi
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) March 20, 2024
This statement marked the first acknowledgment since the tragedy that the couple had parted ways.
Koltsov, 42, represented the Belarus national ice hockey team at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and had stints with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2003 to 2006.
Sabalenka and Koltsov were initially linked in June 2021, according to People magazine, and Sabalenka often shared photos of them together on her Instagram account, including one post where she wrote, “I love you @koltsov2021,” accompanied by heart and other emojis.
Koltsov also publicly praised Sabalenka after she clinched her second consecutive Australian Open title in January.
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