She arrived at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center dressed more for the Met Gala than a tennis match — and she absolutely knew it. Aryna Sabalenka has never been shy about using a Grand Slam as her personal fashion platform, but her appearance at this year's US Open Fan Week has raised the bar considerably.
The Look That Stopped the Court
On 25 August, Aryna Sabalenka stepped out for her first-round mixed doubles match at the US Open wearing an ensemble that had precious little to do with athletic restraint. The world's top-ranked women's tennis player stepped onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium alongside Novak Djokovic wearing one of Nike's more daring looks — think fishnet, or mesh, depending on who you ask: a black, see-through dress over a sports bra and shorts. Per the brief, those shorts and bra were in a vivid neon orange, making the sheer layer above them all the more striking. She finished the look with her hair swept into a bun, dangling gem earrings, and a matching necklace.
She added even more flash to the look with custom Material Good jewelry designed specifically for the US Open, including a necklace, matching bracelet, and oversized drop earrings. Sabalenka collaborated with the jewellery brand Material Good, which has bejewelled her for every Grand Slam moment since she competed during last year's US Open, to create a collection inspired by the Big Apple's reputation as a melting pot of different cultures.
Star Power, Meet Reality
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic headlined the initial list of 16 teams entered in the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The glamour, however, could not carry the scoreline. Djokovic and Sabalenka were beaten 1-4, 4-2, 10-2 by Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova.
The pair were originally slated to take on Frances Tiafoe and Leylah Fernandez, but the lineup had to be shuffled after Tiafoe withdrew from the tournament on Monday due to injury, giving the number one pair a tough test right out of the gate. Both Djokovic and Sabalenka will have a short break before their US Open singles campaigns get underway from 30 August.
The Internet Weighs In
Predictably, the look divided opinion online almost as sharply as the match itself. A fan put out a post on X asking people to rate Sabalenka's outfit and jewellery, and a majority felt it was not the most practical choice for a tennis court. The comments ranged from blunt to outright unkind — though Sabalenka had clearly anticipated exactly this reaction.
"I love my outfit. If someone doesn't like it, it's okay. You cannot impress everyone with your outfits. That's why I like fashion — because there is room for whatever, basically."
She had made those remarks ahead of the match, and they aged rather well. This is, after all, a woman who told Vogue that her guiding philosophy is balance and that she believes "power is in simplicity" — even as she serves in 83 carats of coloured gemstones.
Fashion Forward, Always
Sabalenka's boldness on court is entirely consistent with who she is off it. Her friendship with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic came to the fore last year after she practised with him and they spent time together socially, along with their partners. But it is her relationship with fashion that has earned her a different kind of following — one that watches the warm-up as closely as the match itself.
The two-time defending US Open champion won last year's women's singles title, defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final to claim her fourth major singles title overall. With her singles campaign beginning at the end of the month, expect the fashion moments — and the scrutiny — to keep coming. On both counts, Sabalenka is more than ready.
