World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka has opted to participate in the Miami Open despite her boyfriend’s death on Monday, March 18. In what has been dubbed by the Miami-Dade Police Department as an ‘apparent suicide,’ Konstantin Koltsov has been said to have jumped from his balcony.
Sabalenka, who is seeded second in the competition will enter at the second-round stage and is due to play Paula Badosa on Friday, March 21. She received a bye in the first round.
Koltsov Was a Former NHL Player
Konstantin Koltsov, a former ice hockey player, had represented Belarus at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics. He also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for three years in the NHL. Remembered for his speed on the ice, he won the Russian Super League title with Salavat Yulaev in 2008. He recently returned to the club as an assistant coach.
Tributes by Former Clubs
Whilst announcing his death, Koltsov was described by the club as a ‘strong and cheerful person’ who was ‘loved and respected by players, colleagues and fans’.
The Pittsburgh Penguins also paid tribute to their former player in their press release, saying “The Penguins extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward, Konstantin Koltsov.”
Sabalenka Trains Despite the News of her Partner’s Death
Video clips earlier revealed that the defending Australian Open champion trained on Monday despite the death of her partner only a matter of hours earlier. She was also found to have gone ahead with her practice session on Tuesday amid the news of Koltsov’s death was reported.
Not the First Time Sabalenka Lost One of Her Closest
This is not the first time that the 25-year-old tennis sensation has lost one of her closest. In 2019, she lost her father Sergey after the 43-year-old contracted meningitis. Describing her dad as her ‘biggest motivation,’ she made a special mention of him when retaining her Australian Open title earlier this year.
Been Dating Since June 2021
The first reports of Sabalenka and Koltsov dating each other appeared in June 2021 by the People magazine. The tennis ace frequently posted photos of them together on social media. Koltsov is reported to have three children from a previous relationship.
Also Read: Halep vs. Badosa: A Glimpse into the Courageous Comeback of a Champion
Sabalenka will head to Miami following a fourth-round exit at the Indian Wells Open. She registered a win against Peyton Stearns and Emma Raducanu at the competition before going down to Emma Navarro.
The 25-year-old’s form has taken a dip since her victory at the first Grand Slam of the year. She also suffered a second-round exit at the Dubai Tennis Championship against Croatia’s Donna Vekic.