MIAMI – World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka described the death of her former boyfriend as an “unthinkable tragedy” as she commented for the first time on March 20 on the apparent suicide of Konstantin Koltsov.
The Miami-Dade police department confirmed on March 19 that they had responded to a call the day before at a Miami resort about reports of a man jumping off a balcony. The police said no foul play was suspected.
The news of former professional ice hockey player Koltsov’s death sent a shockwave through the Miami Open where Sabalenka is scheduled to play her opening match against Paula Badosa on March 22.
“Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy and, while we were no longer together, my heart is broken,” Sabalenka said in a statement through her publicists.
“Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
The statement was the first mention since the tragedy that the couple had split.
Sabalenka, 25, and Koltsov, 42, were first linked in June 2021, according to People magazine, and the Belarusian frequently posted photos of them together on her Instagram account.
Koltsov also applauded Sabalenka after she won her second consecutive Australian Open title in January.
Badosa is a close friend of Sabalenka’s and said their match would be “uncomfortable”.
Players on the WTA have also expressed their support for the second seed, who, on March 19, practised on an outside court and has given no indication of withdrawing from the tournament.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka took another confident step in her comeback from maternity break by easing past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 6-4 on March 20 to move into the second round, where another returning mother awaits.
The Japanese faces Ukrainian 15th seed Elina Svitolina, who is less than a year into her return from maternity leave.
“I was watching her last year and I was admiring all her runs in Wimbledon. It’s going to be a really incredible honour to play against her,” said Osaka of Svitolina’s semi-final run at the All England Club.
Earlier, Sloane Stephens celebrated her 31st birthday by beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-3 in a one-sided battle between former Grand Slam champions. The American will take on Romania’s Sorana Cirstea next.
In the men’s draw, Andy Murray outlasted an ailing Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round, where he will again try to do something he has not done this season – win two consecutive matches.
The victory added another small milestone to the 36-year-old Scotsman’s career as he became the third active player with 30 wins at the event, behind only Novak Djokovic (44) and Rafael Nadal (40).
“It was obviously a great win for me. I started off a little bit slow, but I do think I played pretty well from the middle of the first set until the end of the match,” said Murray, who next faces Tomas Etcheverry.
The Argentinian has won two of their three encounters. REUTERS, AFP
