Aryna Sabalenka recently opened up about the emotional trauma she experienced following the death of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. The World No. 1 spoke honestly about how difficult that period was for her, while also admitting that she struggled with the way people judged her during that time.
Sabalenka was last seen competing at the Italian Open, where she had a disappointing title defense and suffered a third-round loss to Sorana Cirstea in three sets.
After her campaign in Rome came to an end, Sabalenka sat down with Vogue for a candid interview covering multiple aspects of her life and career, including Koltsov’s passing. The two had been in a relationship for nearly three years before the former Belarusian ice hockey player died in Miami in 2024. During the conversation, Sabalenka described the experience as deeply traumatizing and reflected on how painful it was to deal with public scrutiny while grieving.
“I was fighting with the cop—like, I couldn’t accept it. I don’t know if there’s any cliché about how you’re supposed to grieve. I feel like in this situation, there is no right and wrong. We all need different things. For me, going back to work is the only way. I’m 28, but sometimes I think I’ve had everything in life that you could imagine,” Aryna Sabalenka said.
Aryna Sabalenka Arrives At French Open 2026
Aryna Sabalenka may have endured back-to-back early exits at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, but she has already put those setbacks behind her. The Belarusian has now arrived in Paris as she gears up for the 2026 French Open.
Sabalenka appears focused and refreshed heading into Roland Garros, officially closing the chapter on her Rome campaign. Reflecting on her time there, she admitted that while things didn’t end the way she had hoped, the experience still offered valuable lessons that she intends to carry forward.
“Not every story ends the way you want, but every chapter teaches you something. Rome, thank you for the love ❤️ Ciao bella, see you soon,” she wrote on Instagram.
Aryna Sabalenka will enter the French Open as the top seed, leading a stacked draw that includes Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula, among others. Notably, Gauff returns as the defending champion.
Also Read: