Aryna Sabalenka remains deeply affected by the loss of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. Koltsov, who was 42 years old, took his own life on March 18, 2024, in Miami, as confirmed by the Miami-Dade Police Department to PEOPLE. Though he had come to Florida to support Sabalenka at the Miami Open, she revealed they were no longer in a relationship at the time of his death.
Although Sabalenka and Koltsov kept their romance mostly private, Koltsov was known for his support of her tennis career. He had a well known career of his own, playing professional ice hockey and participating in two Olympic Games.
Sabalenka and Koltsov’s relationship was kept mostly private, but they were known to have traveled together and shared moments on social media
Sabalenka, who gained prominence with her appearance in Netflix’s Break Point, secured her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023. Following her second consecutive Australian Open victory in January 2024, Koltsov expressed his pride on Instagram with a heartfelt message.
In an interview with The Independent in August 2024, Sabalenka confessed she should have taken time off from tennis following Koltsov’s death. Reflecting on her struggles, she admitted she needed a break to recover and start anew.
By September 2024, Sabalenka had triumphed at the US Open in New York City, with her new boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, present in the audience.
Koltsov’s background includes a long career in ice hockey, where he played for 18 years, participated in the IIHF World Championships, and the Winter Olympics. He was also from Minsk, Belarus, the same city where Sabalenka was born.
The couple’s relationship was first made public in June 2021 when Sabalenka shared a photo of them together on Instagram. Although Koltsov’s Instagram was private, Sabalenka frequently posted about their time together.
Their travels included trips to Rome and Fort Lauderdale, which Sabalenka documented on social media. Koltsov, a father of three from a previous relationship, was featured in Sabalenka’s Instagram posts with her stepson, Stefan.
Koltsov’s death was confirmed by his KHL team, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, and acknowledged by the Pittsburgh Penguins, his former NHL team. The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that Koltsov’s death was a suicide, with no foul play suspected. For those in crisis, support is available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
