Aryna Sabalenka in mourning after the brutal death of her companion, former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov

Aryna Sabalenka is in mourning. EPA – RAY ACEVEDO

Former ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, companion of tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka, died at the age of 42, the Belarusian ice hockey federation reported on Tuesday March 19.

Koltsov “died suddenly”, the sports organization wrote in a short press release, without specifying the cause or place of his death.

"We are in mourning"

"We are in mourning", she wrote on her website, adding: "The Belarusian Hockey Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family, to friends and all those who knew and worked with Konstantin".

During his career, the Belarusian hockey player played in the NHL, the North American ice hockey championship, with the Pittsburgh Penguins team.

His partner, tennis champion Sabalenka, world No.2 and double title holder of the Australian Open, aged 25, did not did not immediately make a statement. She must compete this week in the Masters 1000 in Miami.