Konstantin Koltsov, the previous skilled hockey participant and boyfriend of tennis participant Aryna Sabalenka, has died on the age of 42, his Russian membership stated in a press release.
“It’s with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has handed away,” Salavat Yulaev, which is predicated within the Russian metropolis of Ufa, stated. “He was a powerful and cheerful individual, he was beloved and revered by gamers, colleagues, and followers. Konstantin Evgenievich without end wrote himself into the historical past of our membership.
“Could he relaxation in peace.”
The Belarusian was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1999 and performed for the Nationwide Hockey League membership between 2002 and 2006. An explosive skater, Koltsov by no means developed a constant scoring contact within the NHL after rising by means of the ranks of Russian hockey. However he was common with Penguins followers due to his pace.
After that, he returned to Russia and gained the league title with Salavat Yulaev in 2008 and extra just lately returned to the membership as an assistant coach.
Koltsov and the Belarusian world No 2 Sabalenka had been collectively for a number of years and he was there for a few of her greatest wins in tennis, together with when she retained her Australian Open title in Melbourne earlier this 12 months.
(Instagram/Aryna Sabalenka)
Sabalenka’s father Sergey, who was additionally an ice hockey participant, died in 2019.
“I misplaced my father 4 years in the past. We had one dream: that earlier than 25 I’ll win a few Grand Slams,” Sabalenka stated on the Netflix sequence Break Level. “And when he handed away, I began pondering an excessive amount of about it.
“Now I’m 24 and there’s zero in my pocket. I really feel like I simply put a lot stress on myself.”
Quickly after that — earlier than she turned 25 — she gained her first Grand Slam title on the 2023 Australian Open, then making it two this 12 months in Melbourne.
Sabalenka misplaced within the final 16 at Indian Wells final week and had been scheduled to play her first match on the Miami Open on Friday.
(Photograph: Getty Pictures)
