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Aryna Sabalenka decided to participate in the Miami Open anyway, despite the dramatic death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, who died from an alleged suicide by jumping from a hotel balcony.
For this choice, Sabalenka received several criticisms, with insiders and fans showing their insensitivity in such a particularly dramatic moment.
Immense respect to Aryna Sabalenka for showing up this week despite the circumstances
May she take all the time she needs to take care of herself and process her feelings pic.twitter.com/BGXvfn7WlB
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 24, 2024
Jimmy Connors, in his podcast Advantage Connors, defended the Belarusian player and explained, as it should be, that people don’t know what the Australian Open champion is really going through.
“With all due respect, there are some topics where people should keep their comments to themselves. Unless you’re actually in her shoes and know her thoughts, it’s best to avoid certain statements.
We are talking about a devastating story and only you can decide how to take it. She would have been criticized even if she had decided to withdraw from the tournament, because people are like that. In my time, when I played, tennis was a great escape for…
