Who is Konstantin Koltsov, boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, who died at 42

The announcement came from the Belarusian hockey federation, but without details on the death of the former player Konstantin Koltsov. The 42-year-old who had also played in the American professional league was, as of 2021, in a relationship with Aryna Sabalenka25 years old, current number two in the world in tennis.

The Belarusian Hockey Federation published a short statement. “We are in mourning”, it is read. The text says that the death occurred suddenly, neither the place nor the circumstances of the death are specified.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Koltsov began playing for Junactva Minsk in 1st Belarusian Division during the 1997-98 season and then moved to Severstal Cherepovets in Russia. Due to its speed it was often called Russian Rocket II, the second Russian missile.

Koltsov also played with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL between 2002 and 2006. He participated in nine world championships with the Belarusian national team and in the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010. «It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has died», said Salavat Yulaev, who is based in the Russian city of Ufa. Koltsov leaves behind three children from his previous partner, Julia.

Some Belarusian news sites, Koltsov was a You love me, where Aryna Sabalenka was supposed to be involved in the Masters 1000, starting in the next few days. For Sabalenka another personal loss after the death of his father Sergey, in 2019. Also a former hockey player, who died at just 43 years old, he had introduced her to tennis. There Belarusian tiger, this is her nickname, she was number one in the world and won the last Australian Open, her second. She got a tiger tattoo on her left forearm, as she was born in the year of the tiger according to the Chinese calendar. Her motto is «fight, keep fighting, on every single point».