Aryna Sabalenka unveiled a fresh take on her much-discussed sheer US Open dress on Wednesday night, keeping her on-court fashion firmly in the spotlight at Flushing Meadows.
The world No. 1 has already attracted plenty of attention in New York after stepping out in a black, basketball-inspired look during mixed doubles, with her vivid orange sports bra and matching briefs clearly visible beneath the see-through design.
The two-time defending singles champion followed that up with a similarly bold version in bright orange on Monday in Queens, where she opened her 2026 US Open campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Camila Osorio.
For her second-round match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, however, Sabalenka switched back to black. This time, the entire outfit followed the same color scheme, including her sports bra and matching briefs.
The latest look appeared to suit her just fine, as Sabalenka powered to a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Russian-born opponent Polina Iatcenko.
After drawing attention with Monday night’s all-orange outfit, Sabalenka said the variation was part of Nike’s plan for the tournament, with the brand creating separate day and night versions of the dress for her US Open run.
Aryna Sabalenka introduced another version of her controversial see-through dress on Wednesday
Sabalenka returned to black, with her sports bra and matching briefs also in the same color
Sabalenka once again completed her outfit with a dazzling array of rare gemstones
‘To be honest, I didn’t know that I have a day dress,’ she said. ‘I thought I have a black dress with orange underneath. I figured [out] when I went to Nike that I actually have day session and night session, which is just like black and orange for the day.’
Tennis fans were quick to slam the risque outfit that Sabalenka wore during the mixed doubles event with Djokovic, although she did not back down from criticism.
‘Who cares what people think?’ she told reporters at Flushing Meadows on Friday’s media day. ‘I love it,’ she added.
As she explained, her grand-slam outfits are inspired by the cities where the four tournaments are played.
‘Surfing for the Australian Open, ballet for Roland Garros, cricket for Wimbledon,’ she said. ‘Now it’s basketball and we’re in New York. Isn’t it the perfect fit?’
The outfit certainly set fans’ tongues wagging on social media, with one viewer writing: ‘How about that – Sabalenka leading the parade of streetwalker chic at the US Open with fishnet over shorts and a sports bra. Why does New York bring out all the trashy-ness?’
‘This Sabalenka clown kit can’t be actually real,’ another posted as a third questioned: ‘What is this outfit on Sabalenka???’
Another asked: ‘What on f***ing Earth is Aryna Sabalenka wearing? The netting and the heavy tacky jewellery. Who put her in that?’
Sabalenka has been to the last three US Open finals, rebounding from a loss to Coco Gauff in 2023 by winning in 2024 and then topping Amanda Anisimova last year to repeat.
Sabalenka raised eyebrows as she debuted her look for this year’s US Open last week
The women’s world No 1 took to the court alongside Novak Djokovic in the mixed doubles event
She pivoted to an all-orange ensemble for her opening singles match in New York on Monday
‘I feel like this is one of my favorite stadiums,’ Sabalenka told the crowd after Monday’s win. ‘I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.’
She must have certainly been happier with the level of tennis she delivered Monday, after a series of poor events coming into the U.S. Open. She was knocked out in the fourth round in both Toronto and Cincinnati, after being ousted at the same point at Wimbledon.
That has left Sabalenka needing help to retain the No. 1 ranking, even if she wins again in New York. No. 2 Elena Rybakina will pass her if she reaches the semifinals, and won’t even need to win any matches if Sabalenka fails to win the title.
Sabalenka once again completed her all-black ensemble on Wednesday night with a dazzling array of rare gemstones.
She partnered up at the start of the year with New York jeweler Material Good and has since debuted an eye-catching array of pieces in Melbourne, Paris, and London.
In keeping with the bold style of the US Open itself, her necklace, bracelet and earring set for the Big Apple is particularly vivid, featuring an array of colored stones said to represent the city’s ‘multicultural melting pot heritage’.
It is also her most expensive jewelry set, with the pieces valued at over $400,000.
Sabalenka’s necklace is set in 18-carat gold, featuring 83.20 total carats, courtesy of its sapphire, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, spinel, chrysoberyl, and tanzanite stones.
A matching bracelet, worn during her media duties, and stud earrings which can be lengthened feature similar stones, with the carats of the set as a whole totaling over 127.
