Aryna Sabalenka breaks her silence on Konstantin Koltsov’s death as tennis star reveals they were no longer together but her ‘heart is broken’

• Sabalenka says that she wasn’t with Koltsov on the time of his obvious suicide 
• Koltsov fell from the 23rd flooring of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami
• DailyMail.com gives all the newest worldwide sports activities information 

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has spoken up for the primary time for the reason that death of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.

Koltsov’s death has been dominated an ‘obvious suicide’ after he fell from the balcony of a five-star lodge in Miami.

‘Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and whereas we were no longer together, my coronary heart is damaged,’ Sabalenka posted to her Instagram story in each English and Belarusian. ‘Please respect my privateness and his household’s privateness throughout this tough time.’

Koltsov, a Belarusian former skilled hockey participant who shares three youngsters with ex-wife Julija Mikhailova, is believed to have joined Sabalenka within the metropolis as she ready for the Miami Open.

It’s unclear when Sabalenka and Koltsov’s relationship got here to an finish, but a number of sources informed The Telegraph that the couple had break up.

Despite his obvious suicide, World No. 2 Sabalenka nonetheless intends on enjoying the WTA event within the Sunshine State this week, the Tennis Channel reported Tuesday. 

Ahead of her Round of 64 match in opposition to her greatest good friend, Spain’s Paula Badosa, on Friday, Sabalenka was seen sporting black whereas working on her forehand and serve Wednesday afternoon.

Miami-Dade Police have taken management of the investigation into Koltsov’s death. But his ex-wife Mikhailova supplied her view on what might need occurred to her ex-husband – saying that he ‘was very seemingly drunk’ earlier than his fall and that there were liquor bottles discovered all through his room on the 23rd flooring of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.

‘Most seemingly, he was very drunk,’ she informed Zerkalo. ‘Unfortunately, hockey gamers are generally responsible of this. 

‘Empty alcohol bottles were discovered within the room the place Konstantin stayed. There was a balcony overlooking the ocean. Probably Konstantin didn’t preserve monitor of his actions.

‘We nonetheless have the previous household pc with Konstantin’s e mail. I knew the passwords and managed to open some emails. Konstantin had additional booked residences in a unique location. Purchases that haven’t but arrived have been paid for. He rented a automotive for a very long time.

‘That is, he didn’t intend to die. Anything, after all, can go to your head, but there was no signal of tragedy.’

Police have dominated out homicide and imagine the investigation might be over inside a month, in response to Mikhailova.

Mikhailova mentioned that their youngsters Daniel, Alexander, and Stefan, aged 18, 16 and 5, are coming to phrases along with his death and claimed that the pair’s eldest son, Daniel, is the inheritor to his property. 

Koltsov performed two seasons with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins after being drafted by the crew 18th general in 1999. He completed with 12 objectives and 38 factors in 144 video games performed in America.

He additionally performed a lot of video games within the Russian Super League and its successor, the Kontinental Hockey League. Across the 2 divisions, Koltsov had a mixed 91 objectives and 209 factors in 612 video games – starting in 1997 and main as much as his retirement in 2015-16. 

Koltsov additionally represented Belarus on the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games – ending fourth and ninth respectively.

One of his former groups, Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL memorialized him in a press release, saying, ‘It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has handed away.

‘He was a powerful and cheerful particular person, he was cherished and revered by gamers, colleagues, and followers. Konstantin eternally wrote himself into the historical past of our membership.

‘Koltsov gained the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup as a part of Salavat Yulaev, and did a fantastic job on the crew’s teaching employees.

‘May his reminiscence burn vibrant.’

Sabalenka and Koltsov were first linked in June 2021 and the two-time Australian Open winner has incessantly posted pictures of them together on her Instagram account.

‘I like you @koltsov2021,’ she wrote in a single submit that included coronary heart and different emojis.

‘Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest particular person, my greatest good friend and my strongest help. Peace be with you, power, persistence and well being.

‘I hope we could have every little thing we deliberate I like you.’

 

For help name Samaritans on 116123 within the UK or go to www.samaritans.org or www.thecalmzone.net/get-support, or name the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988 within the US.