Aryna Sabalenka beat former world No. 2 and two -time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) on Thursday at the Italian Open Round of 64. During a tense mid-match moment, the world No. 1 paused play to address a frustrating distraction. However, her complaint about the court’s lighting inadvertently turned the spotlight onto her own appearance.
Commentator Jokes About Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘Sparkling’ Necklace After the World No. 1’s Sign Complaint
The Belarusian approached the chair umpire to point out an overly bright digital sign directly in her line of sight, making it difficult to spot the ball.
“Is it supposed to be that bright… like, that sign?,” Sabalenka asked. Teh chair umpire agreed, “Yes, I can ask for the brightness to lower.” Sabalenka nodded and walked back to the baseline to resume play.
But while glare from LED boards is a valid concern, one of the broadcast commentators couldn’t help but notice a bit of irony.
The commentator quickly joked that Sabalenka’s jewelry was throwing off just as much light as the stadium sign, drawing laughter from her fellow commentators:
“It’s hard because it’s right in the view of the ball and you. But you know, if I was Krejčíková, I would ask Sabalenka to remove that necklace of hers. Because I mean, you look at that… it’s sparkling so much it’s going to probably blind Krejčíková.”
BAHAHAHAH 💀😭 Sabalenka complains about a bright sign, commentators joke and say Krejcikova should ask for Sabalenka to remove her diamond necklace because it’s shining too much 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/2gqJKLYrzG
— Liviefromparis 🇫🇷🤸🏼♀️🎾 (@Livieparis2024) May 7, 2026
Wearing flashy jewelry on the court is actually a storied tennis tradition. During the 1987 US Open, Chris Evert wore a diamond-studded bracelet that fell onto the court. The match was paused to find it, permanently coining the term “tennis bracelet.”
Serena Williams famously wore a stunning array of diamonds, from custom diamond-encrusted brooches and headbands to her signature, heavy diamond necklaces, while dominating Grand Slams. Martina Navratilova & Venus Williams also frequently wore gold chains, diamond studs, and sparkling rings during the height of their careers. Sabalenka is simply carrying the torch of tennis glamour. The 28-year-old also walked into the court with Gucci’s Paparazzo medium top handle bag.
Meanwhile, Krejčíková, who was making her long-awaited comeback, having been absent from the WTA Tour since February due to an injury to her left thigh, did not have any complaints, as the Czech star remained focused purely on the match.
“She’s a great player. We’ve had a lot of tough matches in the past. She’s such a fighter. Happy to see her back. I’m happy with the level I played and to get this win,” Sabalenka said, after the match.
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Sabalenka has been playing with supreme confidence, and her 2026 season has been nothing short of spectacular. Earlier this spring, she achieved the ultra-rare “Sunshine Double,” sweeping the titles at both Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Her life off the court has been just as dazzling as the 28-year-old recently announced her engagement, showing off a massive diamond engagement ring. It seems celebratory sparkle might also have made its way into her match-day styling.
With the Round of 64 victory locked in, the world No. 1 advances to the Round of 32 against world No 27, Sorana Cirstea, in Rome. Following her early exit in Rome, Krejčíková will take a brief rest ahead of the French Open in Paris.
