WTA World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had not just one of the best weeks on court, but also a memorable one off it, a week she says she will “definitely remember for the rest of her life.” The Belarusian tennis star admitted this during her victory speech at Indian Wells 2026, where she lifted her first trophy at the tournament on March 15 at the Tennis Paradise.
Sabalenka faced long-time rival Elena Rybakina in the final, and after a thrilling two-and-a-half-hour battle, she emerged victorious 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 (8–6), With this win the four-time Grand Slam winner claimed her 10th WTA Masters 1000 title, joining an elite group that includes Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek.
After the win, Sabalenka, who got engaged on March 4 to her longtime boyfriend Georgios Frangulis, proudly showed off her engagement ring again, something fans have loved seeing in recent days. During the speech, she gave a sweet shoutout, saying, “And… thanks my fiancé.”
Aryna Sabalenka thanks her fiancé after beating Rybakina in the Indian Wells final
“And… thanks my fiance. 😂 What a week. Getting a puppy. Getting engaged. Winning a title. I’ll definitely remember it for the rest of my life.” ❤️💍 pic.twitter.com/HttVJUmTl7
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 15, 2026
She then summed up her incredible week by saying, “What a week. Getting a puppy. Getting engaged. Winning a title. I’ll definitely remember it for the rest of my life.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s New Puppy
Last week, Sabalenka introduced fans to her new dog, Ash. She shared pictures with the puppy on Instagram and wrote, “Team Tiger has a new addition. Everyone meet Ash.”
Since the arrival of Ash in her life Sabalenka’s mental health has improved. She admitted that Ash has been providing her emotional and mental support.
“I feel like I’m much more settled, calm, more in control,” she said to Tennis Channel. “Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better.”
After winning the title at Indian Wells on Sunday battling a tough Kazakh opponent and the searing heat of California, Sabalenka, celebrated it with her dog. She then, jokingly dipped her head into an ice cooler and also put her dog in it for a moment, giving him ice bath.
Aryna Sabalenka brings her new puppy Ash on court after winning her first Indian Wells title. 🥹
Into the ice bucket 🧊😂🐶
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 15, 2026
Having previously lost finals at the Tennis Paradise in 2023 and 2025, Sabalenka finally broke the “curse” to win her 23rd career title.
So far in the 2026 season, Sabalenka has looked strong in defending her World No. 1 ranking. She reached the Australian Open final and has already won titles at the Brisbane Open and Indian Wells.
