This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka received words of support from her colleagues on Tuesday after police said her former hockey player boyfriend died by “apparent suicide” in Florida earlier in the week.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 tennis player in the world, is reportedly set to play in the Miami Open on Friday but will not take any questions from the media as she mourns the loss of 42-year-old Konstantin Koltsov. She is set to face Spain’s Paula Badosa on Thursday.
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Aryna Sabalenka gets ready to walk out on court from the players tunnel to play against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in their third round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 11, 2024 in Indian Wells, California. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“Yesterday I spoke with her a lot of time. This morning the same. So I know what she’s going through,” Badosa said, via PA Media. “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.”
Caroline Wozniacki called it a “terrible situation” for Sabalenka to be dealing with
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus shows her frustration during the finals of the 2024 Australian Open on Jan. 27, 2024, at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. (Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“I love Aryna. I think she’s such a great person. She’s always so happy and out there. To see her go through that, it’s heartbreaking. Everyone grieves in a different way. She was walking past today. I was giving her her space. I let her know that if she ever needs anything, I’m here, we’re here for her.”
Koltsov, who is also from Belarus, played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL as well as several teams in Russia and Belarus.
The Miami-Dade Police Department in Florida said he died by suicide.
Pittsburgh’s Konstantin Koltsov, #71, is shown in a game against Washington on Tuesday, March 30, 2004. (George Bridges/MCT/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“According to investigators on Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 12:39 a.m., Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, 9703 Collins Avenue, in reference to a male that jumped from a balcony,” the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
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“The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau, responded and has taken over the investigation of the apparent suicide of Mr. Konstantin Koltsov. … No foul play is suspected.”
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