The world’s second racket, Belarusian tennis player Arina Sabalenka, will perform at the Masters tournament in Miami (USA), despite the death of her boyfriend and coach of the hockey club Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov. Tennis Channel reported this on social networks.
According to the source, the Belarusian player will refuse interviews and press conferences during the tournament. Sabalenka’s opponent in the first round match has not been determined yet.
Koltsov’s death became known on March 19. The Salavat coach flew to Miami to support Sabalenka in the Masters series tournament. The couple has been together since 2020.
Koltsov has been working in the technical staff of Salavat Yulaev since 2022. Before that, he worked for Spartak and was also the head coach of Dynamo Molodechno of the Belarusian Extra League.
His playing career included stints in Russia and Belarus, as well as in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
Previously on Miami Vice in the name Cause of death of coach and boyfriend Sabalenko Koltsov.