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Former NHL forward and two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov has died at the age of 42 in Florida ahead of the Miami Open. Russian club Salavat Yulaev confirmed that the Belarusian former pro ice hockey player has passed away
The former ice hockey forward played three seasons with the NHL franchise, Pittsburgh Penguins, in the mid-2000s. Apart from that, forward Koltsov played for the Belarus national team in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics.
The ice hockey club based in the Russian city of Ufa said in the statement, "It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away. He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club.
"Koltsov won the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup as part of Salavat Yulaev and did a great job on the team’s coaching staff. May his memory burn bright."
Meanwhile, talkSPORT has reported that the two-time Australian Open defending champion "has been withdrawn from practice schedules." Sabalenka faced another difficult situation five years ago when her father died at the age of 43.
