World No. 2 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, is mourning the loss of her partner Konstantin Koltsov.
Aged just 42, Koltsov was a former professional hockey player with the Belarus national team and played with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL.
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It’s understood Koltsov died in the United States and the cause of death is yet to be released.
Russian hockey club Salavat Yulaev, where Koltsin was an assistant coach, confirmed the news in a statement.
“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” the statement read.
“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.
“May he rest in peace.”
Sabalenka and Koltsin had been together since 2021 and he was a regular part of her touring team at WTA tournaments.
Sabalenka, 25, regularly published Instagram posts of the pair on Tour and travelling the world together.
It is a second significant loss for Sabalenka, whose father passed away in 2019.
The Belarusian won her second straight Australian Open title in January this year and credited her late father in her victory speech.
“He’s my biggest motivation. He’s been everything for me,” she said of her father after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final at Melbourne Park.
Koltsin played 144 games for the Penguin from 2002-2006 and was also selected for the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games for his country.
Sabalenka lost in the round of 16 at the Indian Wells event to American Emma Navarro last week and was scheduled to feature at the Miami Open this Saturday Australian time.