Aryna Sabalenka has spoken out for the first time since the death of her boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.
The Belarusian tennis star ranked No.2 in the world, who won this year’s Australian Open, is currently in Miami where Koltsov died by ‘apparent suicide’.
Koltsov, 42, reportedly jumped from a balcony on the 23rd floor of the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort hotel – which ended up being fatal.
An investigation into what happened is ongoing but according to the Miami-Dade Police Department ‘no foul play is suspected’.
Koltsov was a former ice hockey player who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL and represented Belarus at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010.
According to his ex-wife, ‘he was most likely very drunk’ at the time of his death.
Koltsov had been in a relationship with Sabalenka, 25, for three years, with the Belarusian set to compete in the Miami Open on Friday.
Sabalenka was pictured on social media practising on Tuesday and has now confirmed reports that the couple had actually broken up prior to his passing.
‘Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.’
On Friday, Sabalenka is slated to play best friend Paula Badosa, who said on Wednesday: ‘Yesterday I spoke with her a lot of time. 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.
‘At the same point, playing against her, it’s also uncomfortable. But I don’t really want to talk about it because I said I’m not going to talk about it. She’s my best friend and I promised that.
‘She’s a strong woman. I think she will get the power from somewhere. I hope it’s going to be a battle, a good match.’
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