- The Aussie Open winner had been in a relationship with the ice hockey star for three years
- She will play this week at the Miami Open in the United States
- Koltsov reportedly died suddenly in the Florida city
Konstantin Koltsov, the ice hockey player for Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, has reportedly died suddenly at the age of 42.
Several online media outlets and individuals, including his Russian club Salavat Yulaev and Belarusian Hockey’s social media accounts, have reported that Koltsov died in Miami.
Sabalenka will play the opening round of the Miami Open on Saturday, March 23.
Details surrounding his death remain scarce and only minimal information is available.
Sabalenka and her team have made no comment and there has been no official statement from US authorities.
Koltsov, who enjoyed a long hockey career in Russia, Belarus and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, had been dating 25-year-old Sabalenka for about three years.
Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka is reportedly in mourning following the death of her boyfriend at the age of 42
Sabalenka and former Belarusian ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov were in Miami ahead of the Miami Open starting this week
There has been no official from Sabalenka or her representatives, but Belarus Hockey released a statement on social media platform Telegram that appears to confirm his death.
“It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev coach Konstantin Koltsov has passed away,” the message read.
‘He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues and fans.
“Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club. Koltsov won the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup as part of Salavat Yulaev and did a great job in the team’s coaching staff.”
“It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev’s coach, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” Salavat Yulaev, based in the Russian city of Ufa, said in the statement.
‘He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club.
‘May he rest in peace.’
Authorities have not yet confirmed Konstantin Koltsov’s death, but his national hockey association and former club have issued statements
The details surrounding Konstantin Koltsov’s sudden death remain unclear at this stage
Tributes also appear on Sabaleka’s Instagram account.
“Dear Aryna, I hope there are many people around you right now to comfort you. Sorry for your loss,” one follower wrote.
Friends of Konstantin only learned of his reported death via social media, with a post on Sabalenka’s Instagram account asking: ‘I’m devastated, we were friends for many years. What happened?’
American tennis star Sloan Stephens also alluded to the reported death, writing: “That moment when you can actually feel the pain in your chest when you hear or see something that breaks your heart.”
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Kaltsou began his professional hockey career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before joining the NHL full-time during the 2003–04 season.
He briefly played for Spartak Moscow during the NHL lockout. Moving between Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh, Kaltsou ended his NHL stint in 2006, becoming a free agent and eventually signing with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in Russia.
He retired from professional hockey in 2016 after an 18-season career, most notably winning the RSL League title with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.