Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend's cause of death revealed after Australian Open champion was stunned by another tragedy five years on from her father's death

The boyfriend of Aryna Sabalenka's cause of death has been revealed, with Miami Police Department reporting an 'apparent suicide'. 

Konstantin Koltsov, who played hockey for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, was confirmed dead by his former club Salavat Yulaev Ufa on social messaging site Telegram on Tuesday, the coach having dated Australian Open champion Sabalenka, 25, for three years.

Sabalenka is in Miami preparing for the upcoming Miami Open, where she is seeded second, and Koltsov is thought to have joined her in Florida before his shock passing.

'It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,' the Russian club's statement read. 

'He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin forever wrote himself into the history of our club.

Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend's cause of death has been revealed by Miami Police

Miami Police say Konstantin Koltsov died of suicide and there was no foul play 

Police were called to the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort in the early hours of Monday morning

'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.' 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed that Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort in the early hours of Monday morning.

'The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau, responded and has taken over the investigation of the apparent suicide of Mr. Konstantin Koltsov. No foul play is suspected,' the statement concluded. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Belarusian media outlet Telegraf reported that Koltsov died of 'a detached blood clot.'

The death of the world number two's partner comes just five years after the player lost her father Sergey following his sudden death at 43.

Like Koltsov, Sabalenka's father had also played pro hockey, and the Belarusian athlete has often spoken of the motivation her father's passing her inspired in her tennis game.

After winning her second Australian Open title in January, Sabalenka achieved a feat she had previously discussed on an episode of Netflix's tennis docu-series Break Point.

Koltsov played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and represented Belarus at two Winter Olympics

Konstantin Koltsov, the boyfriend of world number two Aryna Sabalenka, died in Florida

'We had one dream: that before 25, I will win a couple of Grand Slams,' the then-24-year-old said.

'Now I'm 24 and there is zero in my pocket'.  

Sabalenka and Koltsov are thought to have dated for three years, after first being linked in June 2021  and the world number two has frequently posted photos of them together on her Instagram account.

'I love you @koltsov2021,' she wrote in one post that included heart and other emojis.

'Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest person, my best friend and my strongest support. Peace be with you, strength, patience and health.

'I hope we will have everything we planned I love you.'

On International Women's Day, Koltsov shared a gallery of pictures of Sabalenka, devoted to the tennis star, with the caption: 'Happy holiday, my love, I love you madly'.  

Two months ago, Koltsov supported Sabalenka in person in Melbourne and watcher her hoist aloft the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for the second year in a row.   

Koltsov is believed to have three sons from his previous relationship with his ex-wife Yulia, named Daniel, Alexander and Stefan. 

The former Dynamo Minsk head coach paid tribute to his girlfriend on International Women's Day two weeks ago

Koltsov (pictured in the white cap) was in Sabalenka's box to watch her win the Australian Open in January

The former world number one won back-to-back trophies in Melbourne at the age of 25

In the wake of the tragedy, fellow WTA tour-member Sloane Stephens appeared to react to the news on Twitter,  writing: 'That moment when you can actually feel the pain in your chest from hearing or seeing something that breaks your heart (broken heart emoji).'

The former world number three did not directly reference Sabalenka, but many fans on social media site X believe her post was written in light of news breaking in the early hoursof Tuesday morning. 

Sabalenka lost in the last 16 at Indian Wells last week to Emma Navarro after knocking out former US Open Champion Emma Raducanu, and is scheduled to play her first match at the Miami Open on Friday March 2022. 

Renowned for his speed on the ice, Koltsov won the Russian Super League title with Salavat Yulaev in 2008, and more recently returned to the club as an assistant coach. 

Koltsov previously served on the coaching staffs of Dinamo Minsk and Spartak Moscow, as well as seeing out tenures as head coach at Brest and Dinamo Maladzyechna. 

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