Aryna Sabalenka delivered a heartfelt victory speech after winning the Cincinnati Open, but it included a humorous slip that quickly became the talk of the event. Following her straight-set victory over American Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 7-5, on Monday, Sabalenka, who is currently ranked second in the world, took a moment to thank her support system. However, in the midst of expressing her gratitude, she accidentally referred to her “boyfriends” instead of just her boyfriend, leading to an amusing and endearing moment.
“And of course, a special thank you to my boyfriends, boyfriend. I said, ‘Boyfriends,’ oh my gosh,” Sabalenka exclaimed, catching herself mid-sentence. The crowd at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, erupted in laughter, as did Sabalenka herself. Her partner, Georgios Frangulis, who was present in the audience, also shared in the light-hearted moment.
Realizing her mistake, Sabalenka quickly clarified with a smile, “That’s my terrible English, guys. Thank you to my boyfriend for keeping me happy every day, thank you so much.” The crowd responded with warm applause, appreciating the candid and genuine moment.
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Frangulis, the CEO of the açaí brand Oakberry, later celebrated Sabalenka’s victory with a heartfelt message on Instagram. In a story post, he wrote, “Much much deserved,” and added, “somehow you look even prettier with that Trophy smile.” He also shared a photo captioned, “Holding couple trophies,” highlighting the couple’s shared joy over Sabalenka’s latest achievement.
Sabalenka and Frangulis made their relationship public earlier this year, and they have been seen together at various events, including when Sabalenka was competing at the Italian Open in May. Their relationship came into the spotlight a few months after the tragic passing of Sabalenka’s ex-boyfriend, former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, who died by apparent suicide in March at the age of 42.
As Sabalenka celebrates her Cincinnati Open win, she now turns her focus to the upcoming U.S. Open. After finishing as the runner-up to Coco Gauff in last year’s final, Sabalenka is determined to capture her first U.S. Open title. The 2024 U.S. Open is set to begin next Monday and will run through Sunday, September 8.
Sabalenka’s victory and her light-hearted slip during the speech have only endeared her more to fans, who are eagerly watching as she continues her quest for another Grand Slam title.
With the support of Frangulis and her team, she’s poised to make a strong run at the U.S. Open, and her journey will undoubtedly be one to watch.
