- Aryna Sabalenka plays the Miami Open on Friday, four days after the death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov
- Koltsov died by “apparent suicide,” Miami-Dade police told PEOPLE earlier this week.
- Sabalenka plays her Spanish best friend Paula Badosa
Aryna Sabalenka is playing in her first tournament since the death of her ex-boyfriend, former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov.
After a long rain delay, the world number two tennis player, 25, faced Spain’s Paula Badosa on Friday afternoon at the Miami Open, four days after Koltsov, 42, was found dead at Bal Harbor, nearby.
The match was originally scheduled for Friday morning, but heavy rains in the area putting the tournament into a weather delay.
The match comes days after Miami-Dade police confirmed to PEOPLE that Koltsov died by “apparent suicide” and jumped from a balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbor Resort late Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Sabalenka, linked to Koltsov since June 2021, broke his silence Wednesday about what she called an “unthinkable tragedy.”
“While we were no longer together, my heart is broken,” Sabalenka wrote on her Instagram Story.
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Sabalenka ended her message with a request for support: “Please respect my privacy and that of her family during this difficult time.”
Clive Brunskill/Getty
Shortly after news of Koltsov’s death broke, Miami Open officials confirmed that the Belarusian star would remain in the tournament but would not be made available to the media.
In recent days, Sabalenka has been spotted training at the venue, where she now faces a friendly enemy: her best friend Badosa.
Earlier this week, the 26-year-old she was asked how she helped support Sabalenka following Koltsov’s death.
“I know what she’s going through,” Badosa said. “I know the whole situation, what’s going on. For me, it’s also a little shocking to experience this because in the end, she’s my best friend and I don’t want her to suffer. It’s a very difficult situation.
Badosa added of the 2024 Australian Open winner: “At the same time, playing against her is also uncomfortable. Yeah, but I don’t really want to talk about it because I said I wouldn’t talk about it. She’s my best friend and I promised it. I’ll stay like this. Sorry.”
