The tragic death of Konstantin Koltsov, former Belarusian pro hockey player and boyfriend of professional tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has been ruled an apparent suicide by the Miami-Dade Police Department. Koltsov, aged 42, was reported to have jumped off a balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, with no foul play suspected. The homicide bureau has taken over the investigation, according to a statement released by Miami-Dade police.
Koltsov had a successful career as a forward with the Belarus national team in the Olympics and played for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. He later transitioned into coaching with Russian club Salavat Yulaev Ufa, where he served as an assistant coach for the past two seasons. His sudden passing has deeply impacted the hockey community, with national team coach Dmitry Baskov praising Koltsov’s leadership qualities and dedication to the sport.
The news of Koltsov’s death has left Sabalenka, currently ranked world No. 2 in women’s tennis and the Australian Open champion, in mourning as she prepares to compete in the Miami Open. While she has not withdrawn from the event, messages to her publicist and tournament officials seeking comment were not immediately returned. Sabalenka was seen practicing in all black attire and is scheduled to play in the first round later this week, with no news conferences planned following her matches.