Aryna Sabalenka announced her engagement on the eve of the Indian Wells tournament

Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) - Aryna Sabalenka’s latest bid for a first Indian Wells title hasn’t started, but the world number one still had reason to celebrate as she announced her engagement on the eve of the tournament.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus said “yes” on Tuesday night as boyfriend Georgios Frangulis got down on one knee to propose before they shared a kiss amid a romantic backdrop of flowers and candles.

Both posted video of the event to their Instagram accounts, Sabalenka captioning hers “You & me, forever”.

Sabalenka, wearing jeans and a simple white T-shirt on the night, said she’d have dressed up for the occasion had she known, although she appeared to give Brazilian businessman Frangulis a nudge in the matrimonial direction with her comments after winning the title in Brisbane in January.

“Thank you to my boyfriend,” she said during the trophy presentation. “Hopefully soon I’ll call you (something) else, right? Let’s just put extra pressure, right?”

Sabalenka was beaming in a video posted Wednesday on the WTA Instagram account, flashing her engagement ring as she strolled into the Indian Wells Tennis Garden carrying her new puppy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ash.