"Guaranteed fun, lots of laughs" - Aryna Sabalenka excited to partner Taylor Fritz for doubles as Belarusian eyes comeback on tour
Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian star known for her powerful play, is poised for a comeback after a string of injuries sidelined her from Wimbledon and the upcoming Olympics as the World No. 3 sets her sights on the US Open.
Sabalenka partnered with Taylor Fritz to compete in the mixed doubles of the Eisenhower Cup last year. Fritz's powerful serve and net presence, along with Sabalenka's aggressive baseline play, made for an impactful duo.
They surprised tennis fans worldwide by taking home the Eisenhower Cup in 2023, an exhibition mixed doubles match at the Indian Wells Open. Fritz paired up with the Belarusian to beat out seven other mixed doubles duos to lift the cup last year.
The duo also earned the nickname "Team Forehand Fear" referring to their strong forehand plays as they beat the team of Hurkacz & Swiatek 10-8 in the final. The pair teamed up earlier this year, too, but came up short against Holger Rune and Caroline Wozniacki in the first round.
They will now feature in the 2024 US Open Mixed Madness exhibition event ahead of the Slam in New York. Sabalenka recently interacted with her followers through her social handle. When asked about her and Fritz's pairing, she said through her Instagram story:
"I looove playing with @taylor_fritz! Guaranteed fun and always lots of laughs."
Taylor Fritz was last seen competing at Wimbledon where he was knocked out by Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals in five sets. The Belarusian, on the other hand, was forced to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury. She has now confirmed her return at the Citi Open 2024 as she eyes hard-court practice ahead of the US Open later this year.
Aryna Sabalenka takes the court with boyfriend Georgios Frangulis
Sabalenka who is currently recovering from her shoulder injury recently shared photos with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, as the couple posed together on the tennis court. Frangulis has become a known face to the fans as the couple often share glimpses of their time together on social media.
Frangulis is a professional race car driver and also owns a successful chain of acai bowl cafes ("Oakberry"). The couple were also seen vacationing together in Greece earlier and took to Instagram to share glimpses of their time there as well.
Sabalenka confirmed her unavailability for the Paris Olympics later this year after being forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to her injury. She has now set her sights on the US Open and will be seen participating at the Mubadala Citi Open to be held in Washington DC from July 29th.