The first images and videos of Aryna Sabalenka‘s practice session at the Miami Open following the death of her boyfriend have emerged.
Sabalenka’s Miami Open campaign took a drastic turn. On Tuesday, Konstantin Koltsov, whom Sabalenka had been dating since 2021, reportedly killed himself by jumping from the balcony of a five-star hotel.
The former ice hockey player, who is also from Belarus, was believed to have died from a “detached blood clot” until confirmation from the Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau confirmed it as “apparent suicide.”
Investigations are currently ongoing, and the police have asserted that “no foul play is suspected.” The news of Konstantin’s untimely death at 42 has shocked the tennis world to its core because of his close relationship with World No. 2 Sabalenka.
The two-time Australian Open champion is still reeling from the death of his father, Sergey, who passed on in 2019 at the age of 43. Sabalenka dedicated her win in Melbourne earlier this year to him and revealed that she had fulfilled his wish.
Despite this latest scarcely believable event, Sabalenka is reportedly set to play at this week’s Miami Open, where she is the second seed. Tennis Channel was the first broadcaster to relay this news of her decision to play.
Additionally, Sabalenka does not intend to fulfill any media obligations and most certainly will not be taking any questions regarding her deceased boyfriend for now.
In the meantime, the 25-year-old has hit the practice courts, where those in close proximity filmed her refining her serve in front of her coach.
Tennis fans have praised the Belarusian for her resilience and mental strength and rallied to support her, with several of them believing it is the right decision in the current circumstances to disengage herself from processing this disturbing incident.
With the world No. 1 ranking out of reach this spring, Sabalenka will want to put pressure on Iga Swiatek. Her form had been modest since winning the Australian Open in January. You can check the short video of Sabalenka’s practice in Miami down below.
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