Aryna Sabalenka Heartbroken After The Sudden Demise Of Ex-Boyfriend Konstantin

In a statement on Wednesday, world no. 2 Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka stated that she was “heartbroken” by the demise of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov and had not been in a relationship with him when he passed away.

Konstantin Koltsov’s Untimely Death

Former professional ice hockey player from Belarus, Konstantin Koltsov, 42, was identified dead in Miami, Florida. He was in the city to cheer on Sabalenka at the Open of Miami. Koltsov passed away on Monday, and according to Miami police, he committed an “apparent suicide” by jumping off the balcony of a resort room. 

Koltsov was a 42-year-old former NHL ice hockey player who went on to become a coach. Media reports claimed that he had been dating Sabalenka for more than three years.

Aryna’s Response After Konstantin’s Death

In her Instagram story, Aryna wrote that the death of Konstantin was an unthinkable tragedy. She also mentioned that they were not in a relationship at the time of his death and said that her heart was broken. She also requested the fans to respect the privacy of her as well as Konstantin’s family during the difficult time. 

Despite Koltsov’s passing, Sabalenka, who is presently ranked second in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), plans to play on Friday in the Miami Open against her close friend, Spaniard Paula Badosa. Badosa said that it would be “uncomfortable” to play a match against Aryna. She said that she knew what the situation was and that it was a bit shocking for her as Aryna was her close friend. Badosa also added that she doesn’t want Aryna to suffer in such a tough situation. 
WTA players have shown their support for the Belarusian, who practiced on an outdoor court on Tuesday and has not indicated that she will withdraw from the competition. Romanian tennis player Andreea Prisacariu sent her condolences to Aryna and Konstantin’s family. She also wrote that it is beyond sports and competitions during such tough situations.

The Police’s Statement On The Death

The Russian hockey club Salavat Yulaev first addressed the news of Koltsov’s death on Tuesday. Later, the Miami-Dade police department addressed the death and released a statement. Investigators state that at around 12:39 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024, Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were called to respond to an incident at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, which is situated at 9703 Collins Avenue. The report indicated that a male had jumped from a balcony. The Homicide Bureau of the Miami-Dade Police Department was then tasked with looking into Mr. Konstantin Koltsov’s apparent suicide. The incident was not thought to involve foul play, according to the investigators.

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Ex-Wife’s Doubts On Suicide

According to Yulia Mikhailova, Koltsov’s ex-wife, “most likely, he was very drunk” when he passed away and she doubts he committed suicide. She said that there were empty alcohol bottles in Konstantin’s room and a balcony overlooking the ocean. She doubts that he would not have kept track of his actions. 

Mikhailova accused the media of making a mistake. She said that they misunderstood or passed off the police’s assumption and established that as truth. She was adamant that her ex-husband had no suicidal thoughts.