Konstantin Koltsov, tennis ace Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend has passed away suddenly in Miami. Sabaleka was scheduled to compete this week at the Miami Open. But the shocking news of her partner Koltsov’s passing at the young age of 42 has disrupted her preparations for the tournament.
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Kolstov was an ice hockey player who had featured in the NHL for three seasons during the mid-2000s. He played for Pennsylvania-based outfit, the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played 144 matches for the Penguins in four seasons, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists. The Belarusian was a star in his own right. He had represented Belarus twice at the Winter Olympic Games. And the closest chance for a medal came in 2002 when his team finished fourth.
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Koltsov represented the Belarusian national team in 67 international matches – scoring 21 times and 16 assists. The Minsk-born icon also represented the likes of Spartak Moscow and Dinamo Minsk.
He joined the Russian KHL club Salavat Yulaev Ufa as a player in 2006 and later became an assistant coach. The 42-year-old had also coached the Belarus national ice hockey team.
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Salavat Yulaev Mourns the Loss of Coach Konstantin Koltsov as Sabalenka Withdraws from Tournament
The heartbreaking news of the Minsk-born icon was confirmed by Russian ice hockey club Salavat Yulaev. They stated: “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, 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.”
The statement continued: “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. May his memory burn bright.”
Aryna Sabalenka and Konstantin Koltsov had been dating since 2021. The former No. 1 tennis player frequently shared photos of her boyfriend on social media.
One such post taken from Sabalenka’s Instagram on a previous birthday of Koltsov’s read: “I love you @koltsov2021. Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest person, my best friend and my strongest support.”
“Peace be with you, strength, patience and health. I hope we will have everything we planned I love you.”
Koltsov leaves three children behind, who he’d had with in a previous relationship.
Aryna Sabalenka, who is believed to be a resident of Miami, was expected to start off her tournament this Friday. But she has since withdrawn from the practice schedules. Any mentions of her participation on official social media accounts have also been removed.
Sabalenka had entered the competition as one of the firm favorites for the title, having been recently triumphed in the Australian Open. The victory in Melbourne marked the second Grand Slam title of her career, as Sabalenka had previously triumphed at the Australian Open in 2023.