Aryna Sabalenka gives an update on her wedding plans — and she already has a venue country in mind
WTAWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 19:30
Aryna Sabalenka already has Greece in mind for her wedding, but before she gets there, the world No. 1 has a US Open title to defend. The Belarusian gave the clearest glimpse yet into her plans with Georgios Frangulis during a relaxed conversation on the Tennis Channel desk in Cincinnati, where the wedding folder on her Instagram is apparently already taking shape.
Sabalenka announced her engagement to the Brazilian businessman in March, but the wedding remains some way off. There is a destination, however, and Sabalenka already knows the kind of celebration she wants, even if the details are still being collected one Instagram post at a time.
The timing of the conversation also reflects where Sabalenka currently stands on court. After losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round in Toronto, she arrived in Cincinnati looking to raise her level and has done so convincingly, beating Talia Gibson and Wang Xiyu in straight sets to reach the round of 16.
Her next opponent is Czech No. 35 seed Sara Bejlek, with a much bigger challenge waiting in New York. Sabalenka will defend her US Open title and 2,000 ranking points, while Elena Rybakina has only 230 to protect, making the final weeks of the North American hard-court swing particularly important in the battle for No. 1.
Sabalenka already has Greece in mind
The wedding plans are still in the inspiration stage rather than the final-details stage. Sabalenka explained to the Tennis Channel desk that she has been using Instagram to collect ideas, while Frangulis has largely left the creative decisions to her.
"You know, my stage is like I'm just saving, how you call it? On Instagram, I have like a wedding folder. I just save something that I love, like inspirations. And this is where we are."
That folder may be doing most of the work for now, but Sabalenka already knows where the celebration is likely to take place. Asked whether a location had been selected, she gave a simple answer: "It's Greece for now."
Frangulis, meanwhile, does not appear to be competing for control of the planning process. "No, no, no. He's been really smart with that," Sabalenka said smilling. "He's letting me decide what I want. There's a few things that he's like, 'OK, this has to be there.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, OK, whatever.'"
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The Tennis Channel desk then took the conversation one step further, suggesting a live report from the wedding itself. Sabalenka was not opposed to the idea, although she immediately identified one potential problem with putting her behind a microphone on her wedding day.
"I think it sounds like a brilliant idea. I mean, I don't know if live report is a brilliant idea, because I feel like I'm going to be drinking. It might be something."
The Belarusian was much clearer about what she wants the actual celebration to feel like. "That's my plan. I just want to do like a really cool party for everyone to have fun, enjoy their time. And that's it. And I really hope it's going to be like that."
And when the discussion turned to what that party might look like, Sabalenka had an answer that fitted her personality perfectly: "Lots of margaritas."
Sabalenka turns focus back to US Open
For all the wedding talk, Sabalenka's Cincinnati campaign is providing the more immediate reason for optimism. Her 54-minute win over Wang Xiyu was particularly clean, with 17 winners, only five unforced errors and 93% of second-serve points won.
Sabalenka, though, was reluctant to turn one dominant performance into a declaration about her confidence. She has been experimenting with different elements of her game, but her current priority is rebuilding rather than constantly searching for something new.
"Just trying to, you know, build myself back together. It's been a little bit of downhill road during the summer. So right now we're just trying to build everything back together. And then we'll think what else we can add in my game."
"I'm not thinking about confidence because confidence is something that comes and goes," the 4-time Grand Slam champion added. "You know, I think it's important to really trust yourself. And that's what I'm working on."
That mindset will be tested against Bejlek as Sabalenka attempts to go deeper in Cincinnati than she did last year. She is defending a quarter-final appearance here before heading to New York for the biggest points defense of her season.
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With Rybakina closing the gap at the top of the rankings, Sabalenka has little room for a poor US Open campaign. But for now, she is finding something that she believes matters more than whether her matches are comfortable or chaotic.
"I think when I really enjoy it, it doesn't matter if it's a fight, if it's like really under one hour matches. As long as I enjoy it, that's really like a boost of energy for me. And so far, so good. So I don't want to say too much because I feel like whenever I speak too much, it just disappears. So I'm just trying to stay focused."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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