As the action continues at the Miami Masters 1000, the tennis world gathers around Aryna Sabalenka. In the last hours, everyone in Florida was shocked by the death of Konstantin Koltsov42, former ice hockey player and ex-partner of the Belarusian, number 2 in the world ranking, who jumped from the balcony of a room at a Miami resort, according to the police.
Sabalenka, in the midst of the drama of this traumatic personal situation, received strong support from her colleagues and the entire racket environment in the City of the Sun. In principle, and beyond the pain and all the shock that generated these days, the Belarusian player’s intention is to play in the competition, and in fact, this Wednesday he trained on the fields of Hard Rock Stadium. Sabalenka is the second seed in the tournament and her debut is scheduled for Friday, at a time to be confirmed, against the Spanish Paula Badosa.
In principle, it was decided that Sabalenka would not hold press conferences during the tournament. However, this Wednesday the Belarusian player chose to express herself on social networks, and in a story on Instagram, wrote in a post on a black background: “Konstantin’s death is an inconceivable tragedyand although we were no longer together, my heart is broken. Please respect my privacy and that of his family during this difficult time.” Sabalenka, who has her residence fixed in Miami, was training at the Miami Open complex. Surely this Friday he will experience a moving moment when he enters the central court to play his game.
Sabalenka, 25 years old and two-time champion of the Australian Open (2023 and 2024), is the second seed at the WTA 1000 in Miami, she comes out ahead in the draw and will face one of her best friends on the tour. “I talked to her a lot. This morning the same. So I know what you are going through,” Badosa said yesterday at a press conference, after beating Simona Halep in the first round, the former world number one who returned to the competition in Miami benefiting from a reduction of a sanction imposed in 2022 for doping. “I know the whole situation, what (Sabalenka) is going through. It’s a little shocking for me to go through that because in the end she is my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It is a very hard situation. The match? It will be uncomfortable to play with her,” added Badosa, current 80th, former number 2.
Regarding the incident that ended with the death of the tennis player’s partner, Miami-Dade police spokesperson, Argemis Colome, reported that the police “were sent to the St. Regis Bal Harbor Resort, to attend to a case of a man that he jumped from a balcony” and that “no criminal act is suspected to have occurred.” Koltsov, also born in Belarus, played more than 140 games in the prominent North American Ice Hockey League (NHL), for the Pittsburgh Penguins team.
Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki said the situation was “heartbreaking”. “I can’t even imagine what is happening right now (…) It’s very difficult. I approached her and told her that I was available to her if she needed anything. I love Aryna,” Wozniacki said. “I can’t even imagine what is happening now. “Everyone cries in a different way,” she added.
Along the same lines, American Jessica Pegula described the situation as “terrible.” The player, who occupies fifth place in the WTA rankings, said that despite being rivals on the field, the players are a “kind of family.” “The only thing we can do is offer our support,” she added.