Style served: Sabalenka borrows from tennis royalty.
Aryna Sabalenka confirmed on Instagram and again during an on-court interview in Brisbane that her Australian Open outfit was intentionally inspired by two of the game’s fashion icons. The defending champion cited former world No. 1s Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova as direct influences for the colorful, summery look.
A Tribute Worn On Court
I love it, and it fits Australia perfectly.
Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka made no secret of the specific looks that caught her eye, saying, “It was a light peach dress, do you remember? That was my favorite one, I would love to bring that back,” which directly ties her choices to past icons. That line landed like a well-placed backhand volley aimed at nostalgia.
She also explained the practical part of the process with designers, admitting to having a conversation about color and mood. “I remember talking to Nike and telling them I want to bring those colors back,” she said, showing how much a player can influence the final product when they speak up.
Why The Look Matters
Beyond style, the outfit is a statement about continuity in the sport, linking past champions to the present crop of players who are shaping tennis identity. Fashion choices are part of a player’s brand and can quietly declare lineage without changing a single shot on court.
Sabalenka’s choice also fits the Australian summer vibe and tournament theater, and she noted that the colors suit the event. The mix of practical sun-ready design and homage to iconic figures creates a perfect storm of marketing and personal expression.
Both Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are introduced in the coverage as “former world No. 1s,” which is an important context for why their looks carry weight. When a current champion references those names, it is a conscious nod to both winning pedigree and cultural visibility.
What It Says About Sabalenka
Players often use fashion to send signals, and Sabalenka’s request to designers shows she wants a visible connection to players she admires. That kind of direct request to Nike, and the resulting design, reveals how player input can shape on-court presentation in subtle but meaningful ways.
The Instagram confirmation and on-court remarks close the loop between private preference and public performance, making the outfit part of the narrative around her title defense. Fans and commentators now have a clear story to attach to the look, and that helps build momentum during tournament week.
The broader tennis world notices when champions reference their predecessors, and fashion is one of the cleanest ways to do that without rewriting match strategies. Sabalenka’s choice is a cultural handshake across generations, and it gives fans a fashionable breadcrumb trail to follow.
There is also a commercial angle. Designers and brands pay attention when top players ask for something specific, and those requests can ripple into wider collections and promotional material. The source material even includes a related note about a brand collection tied to the Australian Open, underscoring the crossover between sport and fashion.
In short, this outfit is more than fabric and thread; it is a small, deliberate act of tribute that doubles as a branding move. Sabalenka managed to honor Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova while also claiming the look for herself, which is a neat bit of tennis diplomacy.
Fans who enjoy the styling subplot will be watching how that aesthetic choice ages over the season, and whether other players start to echo the same peachy palette. For now, the dress is working as planned, doing its job on and off the court while keeping the conversation about tennis style lively.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
