Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian tennis sensation and current World No. 1, is not just a force to be reckoned with on the court, but also a fashion aficionado. Her recent collaboration with Nike, where she’s been the face of their latest ‘Swoosh Bra’ campaign, demonstrates how her two passions – tennis and fashion, effortlessly converge.
Sabalenka’s flamboyant presence in the fashion world was evident when she graced the New York City Fashion Week, fresh off her U.S. Open triumph last year. Her knack for seamlessly blending her on-court prowess with her off-court fashion interests is commendable.
Her association with Nike isn’t new. Sabalenka has been sporting Nike since the inception of her professional career. However, their collaboration took an intriguing turn during the 2023 US Open. Despite finishing as a runner-up to Coco Gauff, Sabalenka stole the show with her unique ‘Barbiecore’ outfits, custom-designed by Nike.
Nike’s involvement with Sabalenka’s brand image extends beyond the court. At the Australian Open, Sabalenka sported custom Nike shoes etched with her signature tiger logo, a tribute to her ferocious playing style. She also starred in a series of memorable campaigns that kept her in the limelight.
In one such powerful campaign in January 2025, Sabalenka was seen in a lime-green Nike tennis dress, launching fierce groundstrokes at a parked car which crumpled under the brute force of her shots. This visual spectacle was accompanied by Nancy Sinatra’s classic, Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), evoking a message as potent as Sabalenka’s game – the raw power of Aryna Sabalenka is not to be trifled with at home.
The Super Bowl LIX saw Nike unveiling its iconic ‘So Win’ brand anthem, featuring ten of their most prominent female athletes. Sabalenka was the only tennis player among a star-studded lineup including gymnast Jordan Chiles, basketball stars Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, JuJu Watkins, soccer icons Alexia Putellas, Sophia Smith, and track sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson. The campaign also featured a viral clip of Sabalenka smashing her racket in frustration after losing to Madison Keys at the Australian Open.
However, her performance on the court has seen a dip recently. After an unexpected exit in the second round in Dubai, where she lost to Clara Tauson, and a loss in the Australian Open final, Sabalenka admitted to not feeling “hungry” enough for the win. This dry spell is unusual for the reigning World No.1 who needs to revive her ‘just do it’ attitude. The question now is, can she bounce back and unleash her inner tiger once again?
