Aryna Sabalenka Finds Love After Two Heartbreaking Tennis Losses-Frangulis’ Role

**Aryna Sabalenka’s emotional recovery from two devastating losses on the WTA Tour led her to a surprising personal connection with coach Georgios Frangulis, who became more than a mentor after her struggles in high-pressure matches.**

The Belarusian star, ranked **No. 3** in the world, has spoken openly about the toll of back-to-back defeats-first at the **2026 Madrid Open** in April, then at the **French Open** in June. Frangulis, her longtime coach, became a stabilizing force during that period, blending technical guidance with emotional support.

Sabalenka’s losses exposed cracks in her mental resilience. At Madrid, she lost in the quarterfinals to **Iga Świątek** in straight sets (3-6, 2-6), a rare defeat to the world No. 1. Then, at Roland Garros, she bowed out in the third round to **Elina Svitolina** (6-3, 4-6, 3-6), her first exit before the quarterfinals since 2022.

Frangulis, who has worked with Sabalenka since 2019, noticed her frustration turning into self-doubt. *“She was beating herself up after each match,”* he told *MSN*. *“We had to find a way to reset her focus-not just on the next serve, but on the bigger picture.”*

Their bond deepened after Sabalenka’s French Open exit, where she admitted to feeling *“lost”* without a clear path to reclaiming her form. Frangulis shifted from a purely tactical role to one of emotional grounding, helping her reframe losses as part of the journey rather than failures.

*“Georgios doesn’t just talk about tactics,”* Sabalenka said in a recent interview. *“He reminds me why I love the game. That’s what kept me going after Madrid.”*

Sabalenka’s next major test arrives at the **2026 Wimbledon Championships**, where she’ll aim to break her early-round slump. With Frangulis’ support, she’s targeting a deeper run-possibly a semifinal or final-after her two-year absence from the grass-court elite.

Her ranking could climb if she extends her serve dominance (she averages **70% first-serve wins** in 2026) and limits unforced errors, which spiked in her losses. Frangulis’ influence may be the key to unlocking her **2024 US Open** form, where she reached the final.

For Sabalenka, Frangulis’ role extends beyond coaching. *“He’s the only one who understands the pressure,”* she said. Their relationship reflects a growing trend in tennis, where mental coaching blends with technical training to sustain elite performance.

With the **2026 season** still unfolding, Sabalenka’s ability to translate this personal growth into on-court results will define her year-and whether Frangulis’ impact lasts beyond the next match.