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Sabalenka’s match at the Miami Open was postponed by one day following the death of her ex-girlfriend Koltsov.
World tennis No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka described her ex-girlfriend’s death as an “unthinkable tragedy” in her first comment since Konstantin Koltsov’s apparent suicide.
The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed Tuesday that they responded to a call the day before at a Miami resort about a man jumping from a balcony. Police said no foul play was suspected.
News of former professional ice hockey player Koltsov’s death shocked the Miami Open.
“Konstantin’s death was an unthinkable tragedy and my heart is broken even though we are no longer together,” Sabalenka said through a spokeswoman on Wednesday. “Please respect my privacy and the privacy of his family during this difficult time.”
Players from the Women’s Tennis Association expressed support for the Belarusian player, who practiced on an outdoor court on Tuesday but showed no signs of withdrawing from the tournament.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will face Spaniard Paula Badosa in the second round. The game was postponed by one day and is scheduled for Friday.
Badosa is a close friend of Sabalenka and said the match would be “uncomfortable.”
“I know the whole situation, what’s going on. Even for me, it’s a bit of a shock to go through it, because at the end of the day she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. “We don’t want that. It’s a very tough situation,” she added. “At the same time, it’s uncomfortable to play against her.”
Koltsov’s playing career included playing in the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, where he appeared in 144 games between 2003 and 2006.
He also represented Belarus at two Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010, and nine world championships.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, these organizations may be able to help:
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