Aryna Sabalenka Opens Up About Mental Health Following Konstantin Koltsov’s Passing
Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka Thanks Fans for Support After Former Boyfriend’s Death
Aryna Sabalenka is ready for a comeback after a much-needed break.
The tennis star was forced to sit out of Wimbledon and the Paris 2024 Olympics due to a shoulder injury, but she recently detailed how losing her ex boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov in March also contributed to her bowing out of some summer events.
“Once, I lost my father and tennis helped me to go through that tough loss,” Aryna explained to The Guardian in an article published Aug. 21, adding her thought process after Konstantin’s death. “I thought I had to just keep going, keep playing, keep doing my thing to separate my personal life from my career life.”
As she continued to compete in opens in Miami and Stuttgart following her ex’s death by suicide, her mental state didn’t improve—and her body started feeling the consequences. Ultimately, the 26-year-old realized she was being too hard on herself.
“I was struggling a lot healthwise because I didn’t stop,” Aryn continued. “It was really emotional and really stressful, and kind of damaged my mental health at that point.”