Tennis saved me from depression, Aryna Sabalenka opens up after ex-boyfriend’s death

Aryna Sabalenka has spoken candidly about a profoundly challenging period in her life - the death of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. The tennis star and her ex-boyfriend, a former Belarusian hockey player and NHL star, had been dating since 2021. Koltsov's passing came as a devastating blow in March 2024, just days before Sabalenka was set to commence her Miami Open campaign.

Tragically, Koltsov was found dead at the age of 42, apparently by suicide, after jumping from a balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Despite the heartache, Sabalenka chose to compete in Miami, donning an all-black ensemble for her opening match, a decision that drew some criticism at the time. Now, however, the world No. 1 credits tennis for helping her navigate the dark days of grief.

"Tennis really saved me from depression," Sabalenka told TIME. "I was trying to focus on training, so I spent less time with myself in my thoughts." She admitted that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to grief, but for her, returning to the court was the best way to cope. Her coach, Anton Dubrov, also spoke highly of Koltsov's support for the team during this difficult period.

He was always seeking input from the team on matters related to training and matches, emphasizing that what was best for Sabalenka would be the ideal course of action. Sabalenka has not been immune to other personal losses either. Her father, Sergey, passed away from meningitis in 2019 at the age of 43. In honor of her father, Sabalenka has a habit of dedicating her major victories to him, finding strength and pride in keeping his memory alive through her tennis accomplishments.