Paula Badosa acknowledges that it will be difficult to compete against her close friend Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open, especially given the recent passing of Sabalenka’s partner, Konstantin Koltsov.
On Tuesday, Sabalenka was seen practicing on social media, just one day following the death of 42-year-old Koltsov, a former ice hockey player, in Miami in what the police have reported as a probable suicide. She is scheduled to play her first match on Thursday against Spaniard Badosa, who recently defeated Simona Halep on the latter’s return after a doping suspension.
I had extensive conversations with Sabalenka yesterday and this morning, so I am familiar with her current struggles. I understand the entirety of the situation and it is somewhat surprising to witness because she is my closest friend and I hate to see her suffer. It is a difficult situation.
When facing her, it can be awkward. However, I don’t want to discuss it further since I made a promise not to. She’s my closest friend and I want to honor that. She’s a resilient woman and I believe she will find the strength she needs. I hope it will be a competitive match.
During her press conference, Caroline Wozniacki expressed her emotions while discussing the current situation. The Danish player stated, “I cannot even begin to imagine what she must be experiencing at this time. I am also feeling emotional. It is a terrible situation and incredibly difficult. I have reached out to her and let her know that I am here to support her in any way she needs.”
I have a lot of admiration for Aryna and I believe she is a wonderful individual. Her sunny disposition and outgoing personality are always a joy to see. It was devastating to see her struggling. Coping with grief is a unique experience for everyone. I saw her walking by today and made sure to give her some space. I also reassured her that she can count on me and others for support if she ever needs anything.
Koltsov, a former member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL, regularly accompanied Sabalenka at tournaments. The official announcement came from the Russian ice hockey team Salavat Yulaev Ufa, where Koltsov served as assistant coach. Sabalenka’s father, Sergey, who was also a former ice hockey player, passed away in 2019 at 43 years old.
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For individuals in the UK and Ireland, assistance from Samaritans is available through the toll-free number 116 123 or by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted by calling or texting 988, chatting on 988lifeline.org, or texting HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is reachable at 13 11 14. For individuals outside of these countries, a list of international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
Source: theguardian.com
