Sabalenka, Comrade Konstantin Koltsov died: he committed suicide

Konstantin Koltsov, partner of Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has died at the age of 42. Koltsov, a former ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been a regular presence to support Sabalenka at tournaments.

He was in Miami when he died. The Miami-Dade Police Department said in a statement: “According to investigators, on Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 12:39 a.m., the Bal Harbor Police and Fire Department were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbor Resort. A homicide bureau responded. The Miami-Dade Police Department took over the homicide investigation.“Clear suicide.” Written by Mr. Konstantin Koltsov.” The world number two in women’s tennis often mentions Koltsov on social media in photos and messages.

Koltsov's death was announced by the Russian ice hockey team Salavat Yulaev Ufa, where Koltsov was an assistant coach. A statement on the club's website said: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Salavat Yulaev's coach, Konstantin Koltsov. He was a strong and cheerful person, loved and respected by players, colleagues and fans.” “Konstantin Evgenievich forever entered the history of our club. Koltsov won the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup as part of Salavat Yulaev and did an excellent job in the team's coaching staff. The Salavat Yulaev Hockey Club expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Konstantin Evgenievich Koltsov.”

Koltsov represented Belarus at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and also served as coach of the national team. “The Belarusian Hockey Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and everyone who knew and worked with Konstantin Evgenievich,” a statement on the federation’s website said. The Pittsburgh Penguins paid tribute as well, 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 Belarus native was a first-round pick of the Penguins in the 1999 draft and was with the team from 2003-06, playing 144 games.” National Hockey League game.

Pictures showed a tribute to Koltsov outside the Ufa Arena, taken by Salavat Yulaev fans. Sabalenka, who won her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, is in Miami and is expected to play her first match at the Miami Open later this week, although her participation is now in doubt. big. This is the second tragedy to befall the 25-year-old Belarusian, whose father Sergei, also a former ice hockey player, died in 2019 at the age of 43. Sabalenka's win at the Australian Open fulfilled the dream she shared with her father of winning two Grand Slam titles at the age of 25. “It was really important,” she said, speaking in Melbourne. “It was obviously my biggest motivation, he was my everything.” ”