In Pictures: Aryna Sabalenka and boyfriend Georgios Frangulis share highlights of days spent together amid her recovery after Wimbledon withdrawal
Aryna Sabalenka and her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, recently cherished the days they’ve spent together. The tennis player also gave fans a glimpse of her recovery following her Wimbledon withdrawal.
Sabalenka is recuperating from a shoulder injury that forced her to pull out of the ongoing grasscourt Slam just hours before her opening match. The two-time semifinalist (2021, 2023), who was one of the top favorites to win the title, was “heartbroken” to miss the coveted event.
If her latest social media post is anything to go by, though, Aryna Sabalenka is moving on from the setback to focus on her recovery and the upcoming hardcourt season. She is also enjoying the support of her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, the founder of Oakberry Acai, during the tough ordeal.
In her recent post on Instagram, Sabalenka was seen wearing a shoulder brace while also resorting to cupping therapy. She also shared a picture of her and Frangulis' time on the tennis court in Miami.
"Recovering in more ways than one," she wrote.
Georgios Frangulis, who was first spotted with the tennis player at the Madrid Open in May, responded by sharing the dinosaur and healing heart emojis. The entrepreneur, on his part, fondly looked back on their adventures over the past few months, which included riding in a Lamborghini together, accompanying the tennis player to her practice sessions at Wimbledon, and sharing a loving kiss, with the Colosseum providing the perfect backdrop during sunset.
In one video, Aryna Sabalenka also captured Frangulis carrying her piggyback.
"You have to find the positive side" - What Aryna Sabalenka said about her injury
Just days before announcing her Wimbledon withdrawal, Aryna Sabalenka shed light on her “rare” shoulder injury.
"I'm not 100% physically fit. I'm not 100% ready. It's really frustrating,” she said in her pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon.
The two-time Grand Slam champion only won one match during the grasscourt season – against Daria Kasatkina in Berlin. She was forced to retire mid-match against Anna Kalinskaya in the following round, citing shoulder discomfort. It is worth noting that this was the first time ever that Sabalenka retired from a match.
"I've never been through a serious injury. It's already a lot I'm going through now. The last month has been very challenging, I've been struggling with a lot of pain," she said.
"It's a mental battle too, you have to find the positive side."
About the injury, Sabalenka said she is bothered only when serving.
"It's a very specific injury, very rare. I'm probably the second or third tennis player to injure that muscle. I can do everything, train, groundstrokes, but I struggle with my serve, it's very annoying," she added.
The World No. 3 would hope to make the most of her time off to return to health before the hardcourt season commences. She has opted out of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will only aid her recovery.