THE 3.3.26 DATE: UNEARTHING THE ROMANTIC DETAILS BEHIND ARYNA SABALENKA’S PROPOSAL IN CALIFORNIA
Aryna Sabalenka is engaged: Read about the 3.3.26 proposal to Georgios Frangulis and the reactions from Gauff, Alcaraz, and Djokovic.
Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are just a couple of the tennis stars who rushed to celebrate Aryna Sabalenka’s big news: she’s engaged to Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka dropped the announcement on social media right before kicking off her run at Indian Wells. As the world number one, she’ll jump straight into the second round, waiting to face either Alycia Parks or Himeno Sakatsume. But honestly, her focus seems split lately, and who can blame her? Off the court, she’s soaking up all the love and congratulations pouring in from fellow players.
She posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, adding a simple, sweet caption: “You & me, forever, 3.3.26.” Coco Gauff chimed in with a quick "Congratulations", and Alcaraz went all out with a stretched-out “Congratulatiooooons!” Ben Shelton and Amanda Anisimova also sent their best, and even Novak Djokovic shared some love. Sabalenka’s close friend Paula Badosa joined in, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn couldn’t resist commenting either.
Now, with all the excitement swirling around her engagement, you have to wonder, can Sabalenka keep her head in the game at Indian Wells? Wedding plans are probably swirling in her mind, but if history tells us anything, it’s that Sabalenka knows how to lock in when it matters. Her serve is as deadly as ever, and she’s already put together an 11-1 win-loss record this season, with two finals under her belt.
She kicked things off with a title in Brisbane, then hit a snag in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. No doubt, she’s itching to get back to her winning ways in California. The hard courts there play right into her strengths, and all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on this surface. Plus, she’s been a finalist at Indian Wells twice, so she’s got plenty of motivation to finally go all the way.
The field is stacked, so it won’t be easy. But honestly, if anyone’s primed for a breakthrough at Indian Wells, it’s Sabalenka.
JANNIK SINNER CRUISES PAST NORRIE IN MADRID; EXTENDS DOMINANT MASTERS 1000 STREAK TO 25
Jannik Sinner stays perfect at Masters events, moving past Cameron Norrie in Madrid as he hunts for his first tournament win.
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Jannik Sinner, the world number one, barely broke a sweat as he rolled past Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5, locking in a Madrid Open quarter-final spot and stretching his ATP Masters 1000 win streak to 25. They kicked off at 11 a.m., so the heat wasn’t a problem, but Madrid’s allergy situation is brutal right now. Pollen levels are the highest they’ve been in 45 years, and clouds of yellow and white grains keep swirling through the Caja Magica, settling on the courts and bothering anyone with eyes or lungs.
Sinner didn’t look bothered, though. He’s still hunting for his first Madrid trophy, and he wasted zero time taking control. He bagged the first set in just 35 minutes, barely giving Norrie a chance.
Norrie, seeded 19th, tried to flip the script in set two. He withstood some early pressure but then dropped serve for 3-2 after a misjudged underarm serve that didn’t clear the net. Fans let out a chorus of boos. To his credit, Norrie broke right back and got things back on level terms at 3-3, keeping some hope alive.
The Brit dug in until the tenth game, but then a double fault gave Sinner two break points. Norrie fought both off but couldn’t save a third. Sinner converted and went up 6-5.
That was basically the end. Sinner stayed cool and finished things off in an hour and 26 minutes.
Afterwards, Sinner was satisfied. “I’m happy with my performance. I tried to play more aggressively, and I think it worked really well today against a tough opponent. Glad to get through in straight sets and ready for the next round.”
Up next, Sinner faces either Czech player Vit Kopriva or 19-year-old Madrid native Rafa Jodar, who’s in the draw on a wild card.
COCO GAUFF BATTLES THROUGH ILLNESS, VOMITING ON COURT TO ADVANCE PAST SORANA CIRSTEA
Coco Gauff battled a severe stomach virus to defeat Sorana Cirstea. See how she survived the illness sweeping the Madrid Open.
Coco Gauff caught the stomach bug that’s been knocking players out left and right at the Madrid Open. Even so, she somehow pulled out a win over Sorana Cirstea, grinding through three sets – 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 – on April 26 to book her spot in the round of 16.
It’s been a rough week in Madrid. Players keep dropping from illness; just ask Iga Swiatek, who had to stop mid-match against Ann Li on April 25, or Marin Cilic, who withdrew before his second-rounder with Joao Fonseca the day before. Liudmila Samsonova didn’t even make it to the court for her third-round match with Linda Noskova; she pulled out sick, too.
Gauff, just 22, threw up into a courtside bin during her match with Cirstea. She called for a medical timeout late in the fight but pushed through, finishing after two hours and 21 minutes.
“Yeah, I don’t know, honestly,” she said afterwards, still sounding a bit dazed. “I was just trying to finish the match, and one point turned into another. I think I picked up what everyone else has here in Madrid. So I’m just going to try to hang on for tomorrow.”
Gauff finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka here last year. With her clay season full of points to defend (3,300 from Madrid through the French Open), there’s a lot on her plate and not much time (Roland Garros starts May 24).
“I pulled out at Indian Wells. I really hate retiring, so I didn’t want to do that again today. I’m glad I could tough it out,” said Gauff, who already has two Grand Slam trophies at home.
“I started to feel better, at least not on the verge of throwing up anymore. They gave me some medicine, so that helped.
“But honestly, I was so tired... At first, I was just trying not to throw up the little food I ate. After the meds, I was just wiped out and still nauseous. But I can play like that.”
