Novak Djokovic offered in-person congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka on her recent engagement as the world No. 1 arrived at the BNP Paribas Open, sharing laughs and showing off her ring amid celebrations.
Following her engagement announcement to boyfriend Georgios Frangulis on March 3, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka arrived at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Wednesday, celebrating the news with a joyful dance while flashing her massive engagement ring—a moment captured and shared by the tournament's X account.
Sabalenka soon ran into close friend Novak Djokovic on the grounds. "Must be a completely different feeling arriving to the tennis site today, right?" the 24-time Grand Slam champion remarked with a smile. After extending his congratulations—building on his earlier social media hearts—Djokovic asked to see the ring up close, which Sabalenka proudly displayed. "I'm not sure if it's actually good for him," she joked about the engagement.
The pair's friendship dates back years, including a double date in Athens last fall. Sabalenka later posted a closer look at the ring on her Instagram story during a celebratory meal, captioning it, "Well, I obviously had NO idea this was happening tonight 😂."
Returning after missing the Middle East Swing, the top seed eyes her first Indian Wells title and faces Himeno Sakatsume in Friday's opener—their first meeting. Sabalenka started 2026 with 11 straight wins, claiming Brisbane before her Australian Open final loss to Elena Rybakina.