Heavy atmosphere at the women’s tennis tournament in Miami, Florida. Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka has decided, for the time being, to maintain her participation in the competition despite the death of her companion, announced earlier Tuesday March 19.
The 25-year-old world number two, and winner of the Australian Open in January, trained on Tuesday afternoon at the tournament site. The organizers indicated that she had not asked to be removed from the table, and that she had “the intention to play”.
Former Belarusian professional hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, companion of the champion, died, according to Miami-Dade County police “probably by suicide.” The police were sent, during the night of Monday to Tuesday, to a hotel in Miami Beach because “a man jumped from a balcony”said police spokesperson Argemis Colome in an email. “No criminal act is suspected” in this investigation, he added.
Konstantin Koltsov, whose death was announced earlier Tuesday by the Belarusian ice hockey federation, was 42 years old. During his career which ended in Russia in 2016, this right winger played more than 140 matches in the NHL, the North American ice hockey championship, with the Pittsburgh Penguins team between 2003 and 2006. ex-striker, father of three children from a previous union, had played in two Olympic Games with Belarus, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver in 2010, as well as nine editions of the world championships.
Many players supporting
His partner Aryna Sabalenka, who frequently trains in Miami where she keeps accommodation, and who did not immediately make a statement, receives the support of many other players.
“We all heard what happened last night, we saw the news coming this morning, and it’s terrible”commented the American Jessica Pegula, world number five. “All we can do is offer our support”she added. “I hope she knows that even though we’re opponents, and we’re all trying to beat each other in this tournament, we’re all kind of family. »
“It breaks our hearts”said, for her part, the Dane Caroline Wozniacki, winner of her first match against the Frenchwoman Clara Burel. “I love Aryna, she’s a very beautiful person, always cheerful. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. »
Exempted from the first round like all the top seeds, Sabalenka should face the Spaniard Paula Badosa on Thursday. “I talked a lot with her, again this morning [mardi]. I know exactly what she’s going through.”said the Spaniard, a close friend of Sabalenka, at a press conference. “It’s also a shock to me because she’s my best friend and I don’t want to see her suffer. It’s very difficult. Playing against her won’t be pleasant at all. »