Maria Kirilenko Breaks Off Engagement to Alex Ovechkin

Getty Images via Zimbio

It looks like Russia’s most eligible bachelor is back on the market.

Over the weekend the press service of the Russian Tennis Federation announced that Maria Kirilenko and Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin had broken off their engagement.

That’s the diplomatic translation. The nicest possible way to say Ovi got dumped. Russian website R-Sport printed the following (translated) quote from Kirilenko:

I have decided to terminate the engagement. There are many reasons, but I do not want to go into details. I’ll say one thing: our relationship completed, but I respect Sasha as a person and athlete and I sincerely wish him continued athletic success. … At this moment, I’m concentrating on getting prepared for the nearest tournament. And I’m going that soon I’ll make my fans happy with news not only about my personal life, but also about my sports achievement.

Although Kirilenko didn’t offer up any specific details, rumor has it that the root of the split was a surprisingly innocuous Instagram photo posted by Russian basketball player Vitaly Fridzon.

Instagram: frizi7

In the photo, which was posted on Saturday, Ovechkin can be seen seated behind Fridzon in a helicopter. And to his side is sexy Russian gymnast Karolina Sevastianova. The trio are all smiles, clearly not feeling the hurt from Kirilenko’s absence.

Ovi and his new lady friend looked even cozier in a different photo posted by Sevastianova over the weekend. At this point it’s unknown if the two are officially anything more than “just friends,” but it’s fair to say Kirilenko has a pretty legitimate beef.

Instagram: karolisha_s8

These two look far too friendly for this to be a first time meeting.

As for Ovechkin and Kirilenko, whose relationship was announced via social media, it’s strangely befitting for it to end via social media. Back in November 2011, Ovi tweeted out the following and attached photo:

Twitter: Ovi8

Twitter: Ovi8

The Russian power couple was engaged just over a year later.

And 18 months after that, they were kaput.