Aryna Sabalenka began her Indian Wells campaign with a straight-sets victory, and a new accessory that quickly became part of the conversation.
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The world No.1 wore her newly unveiled engagement ring during her first-round win, joking afterward that the eye-catching diamond might offer a competitive edge.
Sabalenka defeated Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2 in a composed performance that showcased her trademark power and control.
But as much as her serve and forehand dictated play, it was the sparkling oval-cut diamond on her left hand that drew almost as much attention as the scoreboard.
When asked about competing with the ring for the first time, Sabalenka smiled. “It’s very comfortable,” she said.
Addressing concerns about potential damage mid-match, she added, “We double-checked if there’s any possibility to lose a diamond and there is none, so I was pretty confident wearing this ring.
“It feels comfy, it feels shiny, and I hope my opponent gets distracted by this diamond and it’s going to benefit me.”
The ring, reportedly weighing over 12 carats and set in platinum with emerald accents, was presented to her earlier this week by Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis.
The proposal, staged beside a candlelit pool surrounded by flowers, caught Sabalenka completely off guard.
“I obviously had no idea this was happening,” she said. “The whole team knew. I was crying half the time because I thought I looked ugly and not prepared. But it was such a beautiful moment.”
From playful hint to surprise proposal
The engagement did not come entirely out of nowhere. Earlier this season at the Brisbane International, Sabalenka jokingly nudged Frangulis during a trophy ceremony.
“Thank you to my boyfriend,” she said at the time. “Hopefully soon I’ll call you something else.” The crowd laughed, and Frangulis smiled from the stands.
The ring was designed by Isabela Grutman of ISA Grutman Jewelry, who said Frangulis spent months refining the design.
The emerald accents were chosen because green is Sabalenka‘s favorite color, a personal detail that adds meaning to the striking piece.
Sabalenka‘s engagement comes after a challenging period in her personal life. In March 2024, her former partner, Belarusian hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, died tragically.
Now, two years later, she appears to have found renewed happiness away from the court while maintaining her dominance on it.
Locked in on tennis despite the sparkle
If the ring was meant to distract anyone, it did not affect Sabalenka’s focus. She controlled key points against Sakatsume, breaking serve at critical moments and maintaining composure in longer rallies.
Her powerful baseline game remains the foundation of her success, and her intensity has not dimmed.
Indian Wells marks an important stop in the spring calendar, and Sabalenka entered the tournament as one of the favorites. Her Australian Open title earlier this year reinforced her position at the top of the rankings, and she continues to play with the confidence of a champion.
Balancing personal joy with professional pressure is no easy task in elite sport. Yet Sabalenka seems to be embracing both with ease, smiling in press conferences, celebrating a milestone in her private life and still delivering on court.
If the diamond sparkles under the California sun, her tennis remains just as bright.
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