Aryna Sabalenka is on the verge of winning her maiden French Open title, if she can beat Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final. The Belarusian has three Grand Slam titles to her name but has notoriously struggled on the red dirt in Paris. After knocking out title favourite Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, only Gauff now stands in her way.
Sabalenka is currently the world’s top-ranked player and is going from strength to strength with the support of her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, the affluent CEO of Oakberry acai.
Frangulis, who began dating Sabalenka last year, has become a regular fixture in her player’s box alongside her coaching staff. The Brazilian-born entrepreneur of Greek descent often receives accolades during Sabalenka’s victory speeches.
Sabalenka has previously acknowledged Frangulis’ invaluable support, calling it “priceless”.
Their relationship was unveiled to the public in May 2024 when they appeared together at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where they were seen in the Haas garage, a team sponsored by Frangulis’ company.
This revelation came shortly after the heart-wrenching loss of Sabalenka’s former partner, Konstantin Koltsov. The ex-professional ice hockey star met a tragic end following a fall from a Miami hotel balcony in March, leaving Sabalenka to mourn, despite their separation, stating: “While we were no longer together, my heart is broken.”
In addition to her personal connection, Sabalenka also boasts a commercial partnership with Oakberry, having inked a deal with the acai brand before the previous Australian Open in January.
Upon announcing Sabalenka’s sponsorship, Frangulis expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “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.”
Frangulis, who founded Oakberry in 2016, has seen his brand expand to over 35 countries, specialising in acai bowls and smoothies.
The entrepreneur’s fortune is estimated to be around £80 million, primarily built through his successful Oakberry business. This is substantially larger than Sabalenka’s net worth, which Forbes claims is £14.5m.
Before becoming a business mogul, Sabalenka’s partner pursued law at Fundacao Armando Alvares Penteado.
Now 36, he not only manages Oakberry but also accompanies Sabalenka on the tennis circuit, providing invaluable support.
Sabalenka herself has acknowledged his positive 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,” and “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. So yeah, he was my biggest support and yeah, really happy to have him by my side.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk