The world of tennis is celebrating as Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka has announced her engagement to partner Georgios Frangulis. The world No.1 tennis star shared the joyous news on social media after her Brazilian fiancé presented her with a stunning diamond ring during a romantic candlelit proposal.
Surprise Proposal Captured on Social Media
Sabalenka appeared completely surprised when Frangulis went down on bended knee on Wednesday, covering her face with her hands in shock before the entrepreneur revealed the magnificent engagement ring. The emotional moment was captured in a beautiful setting near a candlelit swimming pool decorated with numerous flowers, creating a perfect romantic backdrop for the life-changing question.
The Belarusian tennis star couldn't stop smiling as she embraced and kissed her new fiancé, clearly overwhelmed with happiness. She later posted a clip to Instagram with the caption 'You & me forever' accompanied by an infinity emoji, wedding ring symbol, and white heart.
Celebrity Congratulations Pour In
Sabalenka's engagement announcement drew immediate congratulations from numerous high-profile figures across sports and entertainment. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena were among the first to send their best wishes, along with Hollywood actress Eiza Gonzalez and rising men's tennis star Ben Shelton.
Fans had been speculating for several months that the couple were heading toward marriage, particularly after Sabalenka dropped significant hints during public appearances. The most notable clue came at the Brisbane International tournament in Australia this past January, where she made a cheeky reference to her relationship status during a victory speech.
Previous Marriage Hints and Public Romance
'As always, last but not least, thank you my team for handling me,' Sabalenka said after winning the Brisbane final. 'I'm really the toughest one to handle and you guys are the toughest people in the world if you can handle me. Thank you, guys, I love you. And thank you to my boyfriend. Hopefully soon I'll call you somehow else, right?'
The crowd erupted in laughter at her playful comment, with the 2024 Australian Open champion adding, 'I just put on extra pressure, right?' Frangulis was photographed smiling and laughing in the stands during this exchange, clearly enjoying the lighthearted moment.
This wasn't the first time Sabalenka had hinted at her desire to marry. During last year's US Open, when she saw a fan propose in the stands during one of her matches, she commented, 'I looked at my boyfriend. No pressure.'
Relationship Timeline and Background
The couple first went public with their romance in May 2024 when Sabalenka shared a photo of them together after her match against Iga Swiatek at the Italian Open. This came just two months after the tragic death of her previous partner, Belarusian ice hockey star Konstantin Koltsov, who died after jumping from a hotel balcony in Miami.
In July 2024, Sabalenka described Frangulis as the 'love of my life' while the couple enjoyed a holiday together after injury forced her withdrawal from Wimbledon. The Brazilian entrepreneur is the founder of superfood brand Oakberry, which has sponsored the Haas F1 team and formed a partnership with Sabalenka after their romance began.
Frangulis studied law before becoming an entrepreneur and maintains a strong interest in motor sport, having competed in 128 races of Brazil's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup competition. He frequently posts affectionate messages to Sabalenka on social media, including writing 'I'm in love with the queen of NY' after her 2024 US Open victory.
Overcoming Personal Tragedy
Sabalenka's engagement comes after a difficult period following the death of her previous partner Konstantin Koltsov, with whom she was together for three years. The Grand Slam champion has spoken openly about how she coped with his passing, drawing parallels to when she lost her father earlier in her life.
'Once, I lost my father and tennis helped me to go through that tough loss,' she revealed. 'So at that moment [of Koltsov's death] I thought I had to just keep going, keep playing, keep doing my thing to separate my personal life from my career life. But at the end I would say I was struggling a lot health-wise because I didn't stop. It was really emotional and really stressful, and kind of damaged my mental health at that point.'
The engagement represents a new chapter of happiness for the tennis star, who continues to dominate on court while building her personal life with her new fiancé. As she prepares for future tournaments, Sabalenka now has an extra reason to celebrate both on and off the tennis court.
