World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the upcoming Qatar TotalEnergies Open, creating a major shift in the tournament draw and drawing renewed attention to her personal life following speculation over a newly spotted ring.
The Belarusian announced her absence from the WTA 1000 event in Doha, citing a change in her schedule. The decision came as a surprise, particularly after her strong recent form and her run to the Australian Open final earlier this year. Her withdrawal leaves a notable gap in the field at the first WTA 1000 tournament of the season.
With Sabalenka no longer competing, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek becomes the top seed. Despite the change, the event remains highly competitive, with eight of the top 10 players still scheduled to participate.
While her on-court decision has attracted attention, much of the public discussion has centred on Sabalenka’s personal life. Fans noticed a prominent new ring in her recent social media posts, quickly leading to speculation that she may be engaged.
The rumours have focused on her longtime partner, Georgios Frangulis, the CEO of açaí brand Oakberry. The couple has been together since 2024 and has frequently appeared together at public events and tournaments.
Sabalenka previously hinted at future plans during her runner-up speech at the Australian Open, where she suggested she hoped to refer to Frangulis in a different way one day. The appearance of the ring has now fuelled further discussion, although no official announcement has been made.
Despite skipping Doha, Sabalenka is expected to return to competition at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships the following week. The tournament will mark her first appearance since adjusting her schedule and will likely attract added media attention.
Questions remain over whether she will address the engagement rumours publicly and how her revised calendar may affect her preparation for the remainder of the season. For now, Sabalenka continues to command headlines both for her performances on court and developments off it.
As the WTA season gathers pace, her return in Dubai will offer the first clear indication of how her plans are shaping up for the months ahead.
