Fans Rip Apart Nike as Aryna Sabalenka’s Rumored Australian Open Outfit Sparks Backlash for Being Lackluster

Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka may dazzle crowds with her performances, but her on-court fashion choices continue to spark debate. Ahead of her 2025 Australian Open campaign, an image of the WTA number one in a Nike dress surfaced online, fueling rumors that this might be her custom outfit for the year’s first major tournament. However, the reveal has divided fans, with many criticizing Nike for what they perceive as an average design.

Sabalenka is gearing up to defend her title in the Australian Open for the third time now. She started her campaign by wearing a custom Nike jacket during the draw ceremony, looking quite the vision as she placed her last season’s trophy on the dais before gearing up to fight for this year’s title. Her outfit quickly became a hot topic on social media, with Sabalenka’s fans expressing disappointment and calling out Nike for a more inspired approach to match the star’s indomitable presence on the court.

Amidst people’s excitement about the Belarusian athlete’s performance this season, criticism arose about her possible 2025 Australian Open kit. But the deemed lackluster jacket wasn’t entirely basic. It had a personalized touch, with her name “Aryna” elegantly written in a black font right beside Nike’s iconic logo. “To be back here, and to walk here with this beautiful trophy as the two-time defending champion is definitely something special, I really hope that I can keep doing what I’m doing here in Australia,” Sabalenka said at the trophy ceremony, while donning the sleek look.

Whoop’s IG page shared a reel where Sabalenka’s Australian Open outfits were shared chronologically! At the beginning of this reel, the Belarusian was seen in a yellow Nike dress, which is anticipated to be the WTA No. 1’s 2025 Australian Open outfit. As soon as the reel was shared, tongues started wagging: fans weren’t satisfied with the Belarusian player’s possible look for the Melbourne major and criticized the dull choice.

Fans disapprove of rumored Aryna Sabalenka Nike kit for 2025 Australian Open

Although not confirmed yet, a fan named Thierry T also shared Sabalenka’s image in a yellow Nike dress which he claimed was the athlete’s custom Nike dress for the Melbourne Major. As soon as the photo was shared, Sabalenka fans started to call out Nike for not investing much time in the Tiger’s on-court fashion game. The X thread was filled with comments that criticized the sportswear giant for Sabalenka’s 2025 AO outfit.

The WTA number one player’s yellow Nike dress didn’t present the Grand Slam vibe to the people. One person commented, “this is not a slam winning kit tho, it’s not giving that.” During Sabalenka’s 2024 US Open run, she wore a pink Nike top and a skirt with maroon sneakers, which were said to be custom-made for the star. Although people liked her look at Flushing Meadows in 2024, they found her rumored AO outfit for this year to be nearly identical but in a different color.

Another person slammed Nike for not prioritizing Sabalenka’s needs. “When will Nike get her to design her own clothes like New Balance does with coco? Considering she won 2 aus opens now, I think she deserves to have a say in her kits more than colours.” This person referred to Sabalenka’s success on Australia’s hard courts. Given that she bagged two consecutive wins here, she deserves to have a say in her outfits. This happened during the 2024 US Open too. When Sabalenka clinched the trophy, people slammed Nike mentioning that the Belarusian player was offered a lackluster outfit for such an important event. This fan highlighted Coco Gauff’s partnership with New Balance where she gets to design her sneakers or speak her mind about her preferred on-court appearance.

Sabalenka’s followers were convinced that this rumored dress was not custom but just another tennis apparel that Sabalenka wore in her previous matches but in a different color. Last year in Melbourne, the WTA number one wore a bright red Nike dress. This year’s kit, if confirmed to be this one, looks the same in design but it is just yellow instead of red. Referring to this, a person wrote, “It’s not a custom just a different color.”

Another Aryna Sabalenka fan chimed into the discussion as well. They claimed that Sabalenka’s rumored 2025 Australian Open dress isn’t bad in terms of design or color. The only problem they had, was the tag “custom” as they believed the design had nothing custom-like. “i actually don’t mind the color. the custom is not ugly, but it doesn’t live up to the “custom” name,” commented that person.

People slammed Nike for making Sabalenka’s 2025 Australian Open kit average. Some people found many similarities with what China’s Qinwen Zheng wore last year, a mint green Nike Dress that carries many similarities with what Sabalenka is rumored to wear in Melbourne. “it’s the same what Qinwen has, but in different colour 🤷🏻‍♀️ nike is washed,” commented the person.

Aryna Sabalenka’s on-court performances might have impressed her fans but her sartorial choices – usually on point – have failed failed to measure up this time. If the rumored yellow dress is truly her kit for the Melbourne major, then her fans disapprove of it, urging Nike to make something better for the two-time Australian Open winner. Do you agree with Sabalenka’s legion of fans about it? Or will the Belarusian beauty stun like always?