Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence after Konstantin Koltsov’s death

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has described the death of Konstantin Koltsov as an “unthinkable tragedy”, sharing a social-media statement in which she clarified that the pair were not in a relationship when he died.

“My heart is broken”

“Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken,” Sabalenka wrote on Wednesday. “Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”

It had initially been reported that Sabalenka and Koltsov, who are believed to have begun dating in 2021, were still a couple.

Koltsov, who represented Belarus at two Winter Olympic Games, died in Bal Harbour, Florida, at the age of 42 earlier this week, with the Miami-Dade Police Department telling media outlets his death was an “apparent suicide”.

Sabalenka to delay Miami Open bow

Sabalenka, the world No. 2 in women’s tennis, is to compete in this month’s Miami Open despite Koltsov’s death, but it emerged on Wednesday that the 25-year-old is to play her first game of the tournament a day later than scheduled.

The Belarusian, seeded second in Florida, was due to take on her close friend Paula Badosa in the second round on Thursday. However, she will now face the Spaniard on Friday, the journalist Bartek Ignacik has revealed.

Watch - Sabalenka to play on despite Koltsov death:

“Very tough situation” - Badosa

“Yesterday I spoke with her a lot of time,” Badosa said of Sabalenka on Wednesday. “This morning the same. So I know what she’s going through.

“I know the entire situation, what is happening. That for me is a little bit shocking also to go through that because at the end she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It’s a very tough situation.”