Aryna Sabalenka Breaks Silence on Post-US Open Break: “Focused on Recovery to Return Strong”
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has addressed her extended break following her US Open title defense in September 2025, explaining it as a deliberate choice to recover from a minor injury and recharge with boyfriend Georgios Frangulis before her competitive return at the Wuhan Open. The Belarusian star, who skipped the China Open to prioritize healing and downtime, shared loved-up photos from their vacation in Greece, including a “dream double date” with Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena, emphasizing the mental and physical reset amid the tour’s demands.
The Break: Injury Recovery and Quality Time
Sabalenka sustained a “small injury” during her grueling US Open run, where she defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the final to claim her third Grand Slam singles title. Opting out of Beijing on September 17, she stated: “I am sad to announce my withdrawal… I will focus on my recovery and strive to return to 100% condition as soon as possible.” The break allowed her to train in Greece—home turf for Frangulis, a Brazilian entrepreneur she’s dated since 2024—combining physio with relaxation. She shared Instagram photos of the couples’ outing, captioning it a “dream double date,” highlighting the joy amid her four titles this year (including the Australian Open loss to Gauff and French Open final).
Sabalenka credited the time off for rebuilding her strength, noting the calendar’s intensity (echoed by Alcaraz and Świątek) necessitated the pause: “There was a really tough period… He [Frangulis] was my biggest support.” Her return aligns with Wuhan’s start on October 6, where as top seed and three-time champion (2018, 2019, 2024), she boasts a 16-0 record.
Comeback Stakes: Wuhan and WTA Finals
Sabalenka enters Wuhan rested, facing a qualifier in the first round, with potential paths to Elena Rybakina (QF) or Amanda Anisimova/Jessica Pegula (SF). A deep run defends 1,000 points and widens her 2,792-point lead over Świątek for year-end No. 1, prepping for the WTA Finals in Riyadh (November 2-9). She’s “excited to be back,” focusing on “enjoying life” off-court with Frangulis while chasing more Slams.
Fans celebrated her update on social media, with posts praising the “well-deserved break” and Djokovic double date. At 27, Sabalenka’s balance of rest and ambition positions her for another dominant stretch.
