Aryna Sabalenka thanks fans for love and support amid 'difficult time' following the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov

Aryna Sabalenka has thanked fans for an 'outpouring of love and support' following the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov last month.

Koltsov's death has been ruled an 'apparent suicide' after he fell from the balcony of a five-star hotel in Miami.

The 42-year-old, who shared three children with ex-wife Julija Mikhailova, was initially believed to have joined his girlfriend in the city as she prepared for the Miami Open.

Sabalenka later revealed their relationship had already come to an end when commenting on the 'unthinkable tragedy' of his death.

The Australian Open champion beat her best friend Paula Badosa in straight sets at the Miami Open amid the tragedy, but lost to Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina in the next round.

The World No 2 opted out of press conferences at the tournament following Koltsov's death, with a message on social media stating her 'heart is broken' despite no longer being a couple.

Sabalenka has broken her silence a fortnight on as the Belurussian star thanked fans for their support, which she said was helping her though a 'difficult time'.

'I want to take a moment to say thank you to all my fans for your outpouring love and support during this difficult time,’ Sabalenka wrote.

‘Your kind words mean so much and I carry them with me every day.

‘I am so grateful for you all.’

Sabalenka is currently expected to return at the Stuttgart Open on April 15, with the star among the entries for the indoor event to begin her clay court season.

She is then due to compete at the Madrid and Rome WTA 1000 events in the build-up to the French Open at the end of May.

Koltsov and Sabalenka were first linked in June 2021 and the two-time Australian Open winner had frequently posted photos of them together on her Instagram account.

Koltsov is believed to have three sons from his previous relationship with his ex-wife Julija, named Daniel, Alexander and Stefan.

Mikhailova told media in Belarus that he was 'very likely drunk' when he fell from the hotel balcony.

The Miami-Dade Police Department has taken over the investigation into the suspected suicide, but in an interview with media in her native Belarus, Mikhailova gave her view on what might have happened.

She has claimed that her ex-husband 'was very likely drunk' before the fatal fall, and while she says booze bottles were found in his hotel room, officers were unable to locate a suicide note. She also says his recent behaviour indicated, in her view, that he was not preparing to take his own life.

Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue had been dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in reference to a man who fell from a balcony at 12.39am, according to investigators.

The tragedy came not long after Sabalenka lost her father under similarly upsetting circumstances.

The player's late father Sergey - who was also a former professional ice hockey player - died suddenly in 2019 at the age of just 43.

Kolstov spent parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh from 2002 and 2006 after being selected by the Penguins with the No 18 overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft.

For support call Samaritans on 116123 in the UK or visit www.samaritans.org or www.thecalmzone.net/get-support, or call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988 in the US.