Aryna Sabalenka has brushed aside her disappointing run at the 2026 Italian Open by sharing glimpses of her fun adventures in Rome. The world No. 1’s striking pictures, which featured her chic fashion choices, moments with her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, and outings with her coaching team, drew plenty of admiration from Paula Badosa and Iva Jovic.
How Paula Badosa and Iva Jovic Reacted to Aryna Sabalenka’s Rome Photos
After asserting her dominance by completing the Sunshine Double earlier this season, Sabalenka has shown unexpected signs of struggle during the European clay-court season. Her title defense at the Madrid Open ended in a stunning upset at the hands of Hailey Baptiste, who claimed a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) victory in their quarterfinal showdown.
The four-time Grand Slam champion appeared poised for a strong comeback at the Italian Open, especially after a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Barbora Krejčíková in her opening match. However, Sorana Cîrstea quashed Sabalenka’s hopes of winning her maiden title at the WTA 1000 event in Rome, securing a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win in their third-round clash. The loss also sparked fitness concerns, as the 28-year-old required a medical timeout to receive treatment on her back.
Despite her early exit and injury concerns, Sabalenka appeared to be in high spirits while making memories in Rome. She documented her delightful time with her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, and their pet dog, Ash, along with snapshots from her outings around the city. She also flaunted a chic Gucci Jackie Slim bag, a luxury accessory that retails for $2,450, in several photos.
“Ciao Rome ♥️,” she captioned her post.
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Badosa and Jovic both gushed over the Belarusian in the comments, expressing their appreciation for her eye-catching pictures.
“Ciao bella,” Badosa commented.
“cutieeee,” Jovic wrote.
On the tennis front, Sabalenka shed light on her fitness issues after her Italian Open exit, telling the WTA she planned to take a few days off training to prioritize recovery.
“I’d say that probably it’s like my lower back, connected to the hip, which kind of like limiting me from the full rotation. I guess we just going to have some days off. We’re going to spend it on recovery. That’s the plan I believe for now,” she said.
Aryna Sabalenka will now focus on regaining her best form in time for the French Open, as she aims to win her maiden title at the clay-court Major. The world No. 1 fell just short of achieving the feat last year, suffering a crushing 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 loss to Coco Gauff in the final.
