"F**k, so romantic"- Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend Georgios Frangulis boasts about his affection for tennis player; celebrates her ascent to World No. 1
Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend Georgios Frangulis was overjoyed as the Belarusian reclaimed her World No. 1 spot before the 2024 WTA Finals. The entrepreneur penned an affectionate note to showcase his love for the three-time Grand Slam champion.
Sabalenka dethroned her arch-rival Iga Swiatek to take the World No. 1 position on Monday, October 21. The 26-year-old, who has won four titles so far this season—two Grand Slams (the Australian Open and the French Open) and two WTA 1000s (Cincinnati and Wuhan)—presently boasts a 41-point lead over Swiatek, with an impressive 9706 points to her name.
Notably, this is the second time Aryna Sabalenka has replaced Iga Swiatek. She made her World No. 1 debut following the Pole's early exit at the 2023 US Open. The stint, however, lasted only eight weeks, as Swiatek ensured a second year-end World No. 1 finish by beating the Belarusian in the semifinals of the WTA Finals.
Sabalenka’s boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, who was first publicly spotted with the tennis player at this year’s Madrid Open, was chuffed with the new development. In his “romantic” message celebrating her rise to the top, Frangulis wrote:
"N1 in my heart and N1 in the world. (F*ck, so romantic I am) You are the best meu amor (my love) @arynasabalenka," Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend wrote on Instagram.
Frangulis, the founder and CEO of Oakberry Acai, has been one of Sabalenka’s biggest cheerleaders ever since the couple made their relationship public. He is also a regular in her players’ box.
In September, Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her partner's birthday by showing her appreciation for his relentless support.
"Happy birthday meu amor, I’m so lucky to have you by my side. Your support is priceless," she wrote on Instagram.
Aryna Sabalenka on becoming World No. 1 for the second time: "Let's see for how long"
While her boyfriend was exhilarated by her World No. 1 ascent, Aryna Sabalenka sounded caution about her latest stint, considering her 2023 reign lasted less than two months.
At the time, the Belarusian had publicly stated that her biggest goal was the year-end World No. 1 ranking. Having fallen short of realizing that dream, Sabalenka said:
"N1…. Let’s see for how long this time," she wrote on X ahead of the 2024 WTA Finals.
Unlike the previous season, though, Sabalenka is highly likely to conclude the ongoing season at the top. While she leads Iga Swiatek by just 41 points in the live rankings, she enjoys a hefty 796-point lead in the year-end race.