Aryna Sabalenka makes Miami Open decision following death of boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov

Kevin Palmer
Aryna Sabalenka and Konstantin Koltsov
Aryna Sabalenka and Konstantin Koltsov

World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka is in mourning following the sudden death of her partner Konstantin Koltsov, but she is still planning to play in this week’s Miami Open.

Koltsov, 42, was in Miami at the time of his passing, with local authorities in Florida confirming his passing in a statement released on Tuesday.

A former ice hockey player who competed in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Koltsov had been a regular presence supporting Sabalenka at tournaments.

Sabalenka frequently referenced Koltsov on social media in pictures and messages and they played a prominent role together in the Netflix series Break Point.

The news of Koltsov’s passing was announced by the Russian ice hockey team Salavat Yulaev Ufa, where Koltsov had been an assistant coach.

A statement on the club’s website read: “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev coach Konstantin Koltsov has passed away. He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans.

“Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club. Koltsov won the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup as part of Salavat Yulaev and did a great job on the team’s coaching staff.

“The hockey club Salavat Yulaev expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Konstantin Evgenievich Koltsov.”

Koltsov represented Belarus at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and was also a coach of the national team.

A statement on the federation’s website said: “The Belarusian Hockey Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and everyone who knew and worked with Konstantin Evgenievich.”

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov dies as club confirms tragic news

The Pittsburgh Penguins also paid tribute, saying in a statement on their website: “The Penguins extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward, Konstantin Koltsov.

“The native of Belarus was the Penguins’ first-round draft choice in 1999 and was with the team from 2003-2006, playing 144 NHL games.”

There was a natural assumption that news of Koltsov’s death would be quickly followed by confirmation that Sabalenka would not be taking part in this week’s Miami Open.

Yet it has been confirmed that she intends to play in Miami, with the Tennis Channel confirming her intention to play on.

She was seen practising at the Miami tennis centre just hours after the death of her partner and is expected to play her opening match on Thursday.

It has also been confirmed that she will not be speaking to the media before or after her matches.

Sabalenka has spoken at length about the support she felt from Koltsov, with their shared experience of playing top-level sport ensuring he had a chance to offer her special support in her own sporting journey.

This is the second tragedy to hit Sabalenka, as she has often spoken about the influence of her father on her tennis career, as she dedicated her Australian Open win in January to his memory after he passed away in 2019.

“Of course, he’s my biggest motivation,” she said of her father, who introduced her to tennis.

“He’s been everything for me. But right now, like, I have my mom, my sister, who is here with me, and I feel like I have to think about them.

“I just feel that he’s always with me. I’m very thankful for everything he did for me, and I think if not him I wouldn’t be here. Right now I’m playing for my mom and my sister and my grandmothers.

“I’m just trying to fight because my dad wanted me to be No 1,’ she said at the time. ‘I’m doing it for him, so that’s what is helping me to be strong right now.”

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