Konstantin Koltsov's ex-partner Aryna Sabalenka discloses how ex-NHLer's unfortunate death affected her mental health

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Aug 22, 2024 19:54 GMT

Aryna Sabalenka shared how the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, affected her mental health. Koltsov, a former NHL player drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, died on 18 Mar. 2024 at age 42 after falling from a hotel balcony in Miami.

Koltsov was a coach serving for Salavat Yulaev Ufa, a KHL team. After his death, they put out a statement saying,

"It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev coach Konstantin Koltsov has passed away."

Although they were no longer together, Sabalenka said during an interview with The Guardian that the loss was still very painful.

"I lost my father and tennis helped me to go through that tough loss," she said, "So at that moment [of Koltsov's death] I thought I had to just keep going, keep playing, keep doing my thing to separate my personal life from my career life."

She continued to play tennis after his death, thinking it would help her cope, just as tennis helped her after her father’s death in 2019. However, Sabalenka said pushing through was tough on her mental health.

"It was really emotional and stressful, and kind of damaged my mental health," she said.

"Looking back, I would say that a better decision would have been to step back, reset, and recharge," she added.

Sabalenka took some time off after a recent shoulder injury and returned to win the Cincinnati Open. During her break, she spent time with her new partner, Georgios Frangulis. Despite the challenges, Sabalenka is focused on her tennis career as it helps her stay strong.

Aryna Sabalenka got into a relationship with Georgios Frangulis shortly after Konstantin Koltsov's death

Aryna Sabalenka has publicly shared her new relationship with Georgios Frangulis. They were together at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, and Sabalenka posted photos on social media.

After Konstantin Koltsov's suspected suicide, Sabalenka reportedly started going out with Frangulis in May. Frangulis is facing a divorce from his wife, who claims Sabalenka was involved with him during their marriage.

Despite the controversy, Sabalenka continues to focus on her tennis career. She recently competed in the French Open, falling in the quarterfinals in three sets to Mirra Andreeva.