Wimbledon star Aryna Sabalenka's famous boyfriend died in tragedy as new love emerges
Aryna Sabalenka is on the brink of winning her first French Open title when she takes on Coco Gauff on Saturday, with the Belarusian powerhouse's boyfriend Georgios Frangulis on hand to cheer her on
Aryna Sabalenka walks to the practice courts with her partner Georgios Frangulis
Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite for this year's Wimbledon title, particularly after a number of her closest rivals were knocked out in early tournament shocks.
Standing in her way is Britain's Emma Raducanu, who admits she is facing the best player in the world right now. With her current world number one status, Sabalenka appears to be in formidable form, a streak that's seemingly reinforced by the support of her partner Georgios Frangulis, the successful CEO of Oakberry acai, who is regularly seen rooting for her from the sidelines.
Frangulis, who hails from Brazil with Greek ancestry and started dating Sabalenka last year, is often spotted among her coaching team, offering encouragement. His presence has become increasingly familiar at her games, and he is frequently acknowledged in her victory speeches.
Sabalenka herself has lauded the invaluable support from Frangulis, calling it "priceless", as reported by the Express.
Their romance caught media attention in May 2024 when they were seen getting close at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in the Haas garage, a Formula One team sponsored by Frangulis' company, reports Wales Online.
The revelation came shortly after Sabalenka had to cope with the tragic loss of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.
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The former ice hockey player passed away tragically following an incident at a Miami hotel in March. Despite no longer being together, Sabalenka conveyed her profound grief, stating: "While we were no longer together, my heart is broken."
Within the sporting realm, personal relationships and business partnerships frequently overlap, as evidenced by Sabalenka's connection to her new partner's enterprise Oakberry. Prior to January's Australian Open, she struck a sponsorship agreement with the açaí-focused company.
Oakberry's founder and chief executive George Frangulis was thrilled about the collaboration with the tennis star, commenting: "Aryna Sabalenka is a great example of the future of tennis and we are working closely with her to create some really exciting things over the years."
Established in 2016, Oakberry has experienced extraordinary global expansion under Frangulis's leadership, now present across more than 35 nations and generating him an estimated wealth of £80 million.
This sum considerably exceeds Sabalenka's reported net worth of £14.5 million according to Forbes.
Frangulis, a former law student at Fundacao Armando Alvares Penteado, isn't merely operating a thriving enterprise; he also plays a vital part in Sabalenka's personal life, accompanying her on the tennis tour. At the age of 36, Frangulis is more than just a professional pillar for Sabalenka; he's integral to her personal happiness.
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Sabalenka has openly praised his impact, telling People: "There was a really tough period where I was really happy to have him by my side, always cheering me up, always making sure that we are doing some fun stuff.
"But I make sure I kind of forget about tennis and focus on the good things and enjoy my life.
"Even when things are going wrong in my career, he was my biggest support and yeah, really happy to have him by my side."
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