Aryna Sabalenka began her bid for a historic third straight US Open title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Camila Osorio at Flushing Meadows on Monday. The two-time defending champion looked confident in Arthur Ashe Stadium as she continued her pursuit of becoming the first woman since Serena Williams, who won three consecutive US Open titles from 2012 to 2014, to achieve the feat.
After the match, Sabalenka was asked about the Nike outfit she wore, a variant of the black-and-orange one she wore in mixed doubles, which had drawn criticism online.
Aryna Sabalenka Reveals Reason Behind Orange Nike US Open Outfit After 1R Win
After consecutive Round of 16 exits in Toronto, Cincinnati, and Wimbledon, Sabalenka’s strong start looked like a welcome return to form. The World No. 1 has reached the last three US Open finals, winning the title in 2024 and 2025 after losing to Coco Gauff in 2023.
“I feel like this is one of my favorite stadiums,” Sabalenka said after the match. “I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.”
The top seed also made an outfit change for her opening match. While the black mesh dress with white seams was worn over a bright orange sports bra and matching shorts during her mixed doubles campaign, Sabalenka wore an orange mesh version for her daytime first-round match against Osorio.
During her post-match press conference, Sabalenka revealed that the bright orange outfit was not a planned choice, as she did not even know she had a separate day-session dress.
“To be honest, I didn’t know that I had a day dress,” Sabalenka admitted. “I thought I have a black dress with the orange underneath and I figured when I went to Nike that I actually have day session and night session which is just black and orange.”
⚡️New orange dress pic.twitter.com/sSykREuvHx
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) August 31, 2026
US Open kit pic.twitter.com/ZEi5v7RQhA
— 👑 Aryna Sabalenka 🐯 Daily (@SabalenkaDaily) August 25, 2026
A reporter then asked if she switched to orange out of superstition, after losing in the black outfit during mixed doubles with Djokovic. Sabalenka quickly dismissed the idea, laughing, “No, no, I don’t believe in that stuff.”
In the second edition of the revamped mixed doubles tournament, Sabalenka partnered with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic but lost in the Round of 16 to Kateřina Siniaková and Henry Patten.
This year, the four-time Grand Slam winner’s outfits have followed different themes at each major: surfing at the Australian Open, ballet at Roland Garros, and cricket at Wimbledon. The US Open outfit draws inspiration from American basketball culture, continuing Nike’s sport-themed Grand Slam collection.
However, Sabalenka’s US Open outfit has drawn criticism from fans, with some questioning its design. The 28-year-old, though, made it clear that she was unfazed by the reaction and loved the outfit.
She will face Polina Iatcenko in the second round.
