World number one Aryna Sabalenka delighted fans with a humorous yet pointed proposal hint aimed at her multi-millionaire boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, immediately after clinching victory at the Brisbane International on Sunday night.
A Champion's Playful Nudge
The Belarusian tennis star successfully defended her title, defeating an in-form Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. During her on-court victory speech, after thanking her team, Sabalenka turned her attention to Frangulis, who was watching from the stands. "And thank you to my boyfriend," she said. "Hopefully soon I'll call you somehow else, right?"
The crowd erupted in laughter at the transparent reference to an engagement. Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, laughed along, adding, "I just put on extra pressure, right?" Frangulis, a Brazilian entrepreneur and founder of the superfood brand Oakberry, was seen smiling and laughing in response to the public nudge.
A Pattern of Playful Pressure
This is not the first instance where Sabalenka has publicly hinted at her desire to take the next step in their relationship. At last year's US Open, she witnessed a fan propose in the stands during one of her matches and remarked, "I looked at my boyfriend. No pressure."
The couple's romance became public in May 2024, shortly after Sabalenka's previous partner, Belarusian ice hockey star Konstantin Koltsov, tragically died. Sabalenka has since spoken openly about the profound difficulty of that period, crediting tennis with helping her cope but acknowledging the toll it took on her mental health.
A New Chapter with the 'Love of My Life'
By July 2024, Sabalenka was describing Frangulis as the "love of my life," a sentiment he frequently echoes on social media. He often posts affectionate messages to her on Instagram, using Portuguese terms of endearment. Their partnership extends beyond romance into business, with Oakberry forming a sponsorship deal with Sabalenka, for whom she created a custom acai bowl.
Frangulis, a law graduate turned successful entrepreneur and amateur racing driver in Brazil's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, appears to be a steadfast presence in the tennis champion's life as she continues to dominate on the court while openly embracing her personal happiness.
