Aryna Sabalenka is absolutely not letting the chatter around her US Open outfit get to her, straight up telling reporters, “Who cares what people think?” The tennis star’s bold stance came on Friday, August 28, just days after her Nike mesh jersey-style top over an orange sports bra and matching shorts went totally viral during her mixed doubles match with Novak Djokovic on Tuesday, August 25.
The Outfit That Broke the Internet and Fans’ Brains
Look, the outfit was definitely a choice, and the internet had *thoughts*. Sabalenka’s unique look, a mesh jersey over her bright orange gear, immediately sparked a firestorm. It “did not go over well with fans,” and if you scrolled Instagram last month when she first previewed it, people were already calling it “tacky” and a “terrible design.” It’s not every day you see that kind of reaction to a Grand Slam look, but hey, Sabalenka brought the heat and the controversy. People complain about different looks all the time, but this one really got folks talking, whether they loved it or hated it.
Sabalenka’s Defiant Message for the Haters
So, what’s Sabalenka’s take on all the drama? She’s completely unbothered, and she made that crystal clear. Her explanation for the outfit is actually pretty cool: she wanted to pay tribute to playing in New York. Apparently, Nike’s theme for the year is linking Grand Slam looks to different sports for the host country. Think “surfing for the Australian Open, ballet for Roland Garros, cricket for Wimbledon.” For New York? It’s basketball, baby! Sabalenka asked, “Isn’t it the perfect fit?” She clearly thinks Nike “went really cool and fun” with this one. She’s not letting any comments get to her, doubling down with, “So who cares about people, right? All that matters for me is that I love it. For me, it’s super fun. Plus it’s really cool for pictures.” You gotta respect that kind of confidence.
Sabalenka will be back on court to kick off her women’s singles run at the US Open on Monday, August 31, facing off against Camila Osorio. After this whole viral moment, you know everyone will be watching to see not just how she plays, but what she’s wearing. Will she stick with her defiant style, or will she switch it up? Either way, she’s already made this US Open unforgettable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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