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Aryna Sabalenka is opening up about the deep personal losses that have shaped her life and how grief continues to affect her years later.
In a recent interview with Vogue for its May 2026 digital cover, the tennis star reflected on two heartbreaking moments that changed her life, the unexpected death of her father, Sergey Sabalenka, in 2019 and the loss of her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov in 2024.
Sabalenka revealed that learning of Koltsov's death was extremely difficult to process. The former professional hockey player, whom she had publicly dated beginning in 2021, died in March 2024. She recalled being informed while practicing in Miami and admitted that she initially struggled to believe the news.
She described her reaction as one of disbelief and said she found it impossible to immediately accept what had happened.
Just days later, Sabalenka returned to competition at the Miami Open. Her decision drew attention after she lost in the third round and showed visible frustration on court. Some people questioned her choice to return so quickly, but she explained that everyone experiences grief differently.
Sabalenka said there is no single correct way to process loss, adding that for her, returning to work felt like the only option. Continuing to play tennis gave her a way to keep moving forward during an overwhelming time.
The tennis champion also spoke emotionally about losing her father at age 21. Sergey Sabalenka had been one of the most important people in her life and career, and his absence remains deeply felt even as she continues to achieve success.
She explained that time has not necessarily made things easier. Instead, some moments feel harder because she often thinks about how proud her father would have been to witness her accomplishments today.
Sabalenka shared that even small moments can unexpectedly trigger emotions. She said videos involving fathers and their children, especially scenes of parents celebrating their children's athletic success, often bring her to tears because they make her imagine her own father's reaction.
Now engaged to entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis, Sabalenka said grief continues to appear in unexpected ways, but it also motivates her. She previously shared that after losing her father, she made a promise to her family to become the best in the world and leave a lasting mark on tennis history.
