"Even prettier with that trophy smile" - Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend Georgios Frangulis happy to witness her Cincinnati Open triumph in person
Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, was overjoyed following her Cincinnati Open 2024 success. The entrepreneur supported her from the stands during the final.
Sabalenka lifted her 15th career trophy and second of the season in Cincinnati, beating home favorite Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 in the title clash on Monday, August 19. What makes the victory particularly special is that the former World No. 1's season had been derailed by a shoulder injury a couple of months ago.
After resuming her campaign in North America, Aryna Sabalenka suffered a semifinal defeat at the WTA 500 Citi Open and a quarterfinal exit at the Canadian Open. But the World No. 2 did not lose a single set during her Cincinnati campaign, beating Iga Swiatek, Liudmila Samsonova, Elina Svitolina, and Elisabetta Cocciaretto en route the final.
Sabalenka’s boyfriend Frangulis, who supported her from the player’s box on Monday, was delighted to witness her “deserved” glory. He was smitten by her trophy photoshoot, noting that she looked “even prettier” with the smile of success.
"Much, much deserved (my love) (Somehow you look even prettier with that trophy smile @arynasabalenka," Georgios Frangulis wrote on Instagram.
The Oakberry Acai founder also posed with the champion, joking that she herself is a “trophy.”
"Holding couple trophies," he wrote.
Frangulis also hilariously thanked Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach for shielding their kiss from the camera.
"Tks for the PG13 kiss hiding @jasonstacy.coach," he teased.
"Keeping me happy everyday" - Aryna Sabalenka gushes over boyfriend Georgios Frangulis following Cincinnati Open 2024 triumph
After being spotted together for the first time at this year’s Madrid Open, Aryna Sabalenka made her relationship with Georgios Frangulis public at the 2024 Italian Open, blowing a kiss in his direction during the runner-up speech.
"And just like I promised, Georgios, thank you for your support," she said at the time.
As the two-time Australian Open champion hoisted the trophy in Cincinnati, she dedicated a special message to her significant other, hilariously fumbling over her words while doing so.
"Special thank you to my boyfriends... boyfriend, I said 'boyfriends' oh my god, that's my terrible English guys," she said during her speech, laughing.
"Thank you to my boyfriend for keeping me happy everyday, thank you," Sabalenka added.
Sabalenka would hope to continue in the same vein as she gears up to contest the 2024 US Open in a week’s time. She is one of the top favorites to win the title in New York, having been the semifinalist in 2021 and 2022 and runner-up last year.