MINSK – Konstantin Koltsov, the Belarusian former professional ice hockey player and boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, has died at the age of 42, his Russian club Salavat Yulaev confirmed in a statement on March 19.

“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” the team, who are based in the Russian city of Ufa, said. He had been coaching them.

“He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich (his middle name) forever wrote himself into the history of our club.

“May he rest in peace.”

Forward Koltsov played for the Belarus national team at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and spent parts of three seasons with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2003 and 2006.

In a short statement, the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association said that Koltsov “died suddenly”, without saying how or where he died. “We are in mourning,” the federation said on its website.

“The Belarusian Ice Hockey Association expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and everyone who knew and worked with Konstantin,” it added.

According to Belarusian media outlet Telegraf, he died of “a detached blood clot”.

Renowned for his speed on the ice, Koltsov won the Russian Super League title with Salavat Yulaev in 2008 and more recently returned to the club as an assistant coach.

He and Sabalenka were first linked in June 2021, according to People magazine, and the world No. 2 and two-time Australian Open champion has frequently posted photos of them together on her Instagram account.

“I love you @koltsov2021,” she wrote in one post that included heart and other emojis.

“Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest person, my best friend and my strongest support. Peace be with you, strength, patience and health. I hope we will have everything we planned I love you.”

Koltsov also applauded Sabalenka after the Belarusian won her second consecutive Australian Open title in January, and it appeared that the couple had been very much in love until his death.

There was no immediate reaction from the 25-year-old Sabalenka, who is scheduled to play at the Miami Open this week. She lost in the last 16 at Indian Wells last week and is set to play her first match in Miami on March 22.

However, it is likely that she will withdraw from the competition following the tragic news.

Sabalenka lost her father in 2019 and said after her Australian Open win this season that she wanted to thank her family – and presumably Koltsov as well – for everything that they have done for her.

“I never speak about my family during speeches,” she said after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen.

“But I just wanted to make sure they know how much they mean to me and they are my biggest motivation.” REUTERS, AFP