Konstantin Koltsov, the boyfriend of tennis world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, has tragically died in an apparent suicide. Koltsov, a former hockey player for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, reportedly jumped from a hotel balcony in Miami.
The 42-year-old Belarusian, who had been dating Australian Open champion Sabalenka for three years, was pronounced dead by his former club Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Reports initially suggested that Koltsov had died from a detached blood clot, but police in Florida later confirmed that he had jumped from a balcony at a five-star resort.
Miami Police Department stated, "According to investigators on Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 12:39 am, Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort... The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau, responded and has taken over the investigation of the apparent suicide of Mr. Konstantin Koltsov (04/17/1981). No foul play is suspected."
Koltsov was in Florida to support Sabalenka ahead of the upcoming Miami Open. Despite his passing, Sabalenka still intends to play in the tournament, where she is seeded second, according to the Tennis Channel.
Salavat Yulaev, the Russian hockey club where Koltsov worked as a coach, paid tribute to him on social media, describing him as a "strong and cheerful person" who was loved and respected by many. They highlighted his achievements with the club, including winning the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup, and praised his contributions to the team's coaching staff.
The death of Koltsov comes as a second major loss for Sabalenka, who lost her father Sergey five years earlier at the age of 43. Sergey, like Koltsov, had also been a professional hockey player, and Sabalenka has often spoken about how her father's passing inspired her in her tennis career.
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