Aryna Sabalenka unveiled a fresh take on her much-discussed sheer dress at the US Open on Wednesday night, ensuring her on-court fashion remained a major talking point in New York.
The world No. 1 had already drawn plenty of attention at Flushing Meadows after stepping out in a black, basketball-style look for mixed doubles, with her vivid orange sports bra and coordinating briefs clearly visible beneath the see-through design.
Sabalenka, the two-time defending singles champion, followed that up with a similar outfit in Queens on Monday, swapping the black for a bold all-orange version as she opened her 2026 US Open campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio.
For her second-round appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, however, Sabalenka went back to black. This time, the entire look was coordinated, with a black sports bra and matching briefs worn underneath the sheer outer layer.
The Belarusian star appeared completely at ease in the latest version of her US Open outfit, quickly taking control against Russian-born opponent Polina Iatcenko and powering through the opening set 6-1.
After Monday night’s eye-catching orange look, Sabalenka explained the change was because sponsor Nike actually developed day and night versions of the outfit for her to wear during the tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka debuted another version of her controversial see-through dress Wednesday
Sabalenka wore a black ensemble but her sports bra and matching briefs were also black
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?’
MORE STORY: Burning Man Murder Mystery Deepens One Year After Desert Festival Killing
‘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.