World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka debuted a custom tiger-stripe WHOOP band ahead of the US Open, marking a major milestone after Grand Slam wear disputes earlier in the season.
From Australian Open Bans to a Custom US Open Band
In January, Aryna Sabalenka was asked to take her WHOOP band off before her first round match at the Australian Open. Seven months later, WHOOP has built her one of her own. The custom band launched this week ahead of the US Open, and it carries the tiger stripes Sabalenka has made her signature, echoing the roaring tiger tattooed on her forearm. The pattern runs across a tan and black SuperKnit weave and is engraved into the gold-tone clasp, which is finished with the WHOOP logo. It’s easily the loudest thing in a range that otherwise sells in onyx and flat single colours. The timing is the part worth paying attention to. The world No. 1 spent the opening weeks of 2026 arguing in public that players should be allowed to track their own health data during Grand Slam matches. By April, she had largely won that argument. A signature strap is a small thing on its own. What makes this one land is that it arrives at the first US Open where Sabalenka can reasonably expect to keep it on. The brand calls the strap a tan and black SuperKnit weave printed with a tiger stripe, and WHOOP has carried the same stripe through to the hardware rather than stopping at the fabric. The clasp is gold-toned and etched with the pattern, with a brushed plate carrying the WHOOP logo.
The Origins and Meaning of the Signature Tiger Ink
The tiger motif serves as a central emblem for the Belarusian star, who was born in 1998, entering the world in the year of the tiger, according to the Chinese zodiac. Her tattoo is inspired by her birth year and her admiration for the animal. I was born in the year of the tiger and one day, I was sleeping and dreaming of a tattoo of a tiger and I just made it one day. I would like to have a nice walk with a tiger to have a nice picture with them — to touch them, to feel them,
Sabalenka explained during a Tennis Channel interview. More attention was drawn to Sabalenka’s tattoo during the US Open final as a result of her coach, Jason Stacy. He was spotted in her box with his own (likely temporary) ink on his bald head.
High Fashion, Jewelry, and Kit Debates on Tour
Beyond biometric accessories and tattoos, Sabalenka’s visual presentation on tour routinely generates widespread conversation. As Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her Roland Garros today, she did so in a dramatic necklaces from Material Good. The three necklaces feature over 200 carats of garnets and 23 carats of diamonds, and is inspired by the red clay courts of the French Open. The suite was designed to stack seamlessly and move with Aryna through every moment of the match,
the jeweler noted on Instagram. Rich garnets in deep crimson tones define the collection, while a dynamic mix of stone shapes creates a sense of movement that echoes Aryna’s energy on court.
She is also wearing a matching pair of garnet and diamond earrings. Sabalenka, world no. 1, decided to just wear two of the three necklaces for her first-round match. I don’t really feel the heaviness of it, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside. Actually, it’s supposed to be the third necklace, but, I was, like, ‘Okay, it’s kind of like too much probably’, so I decided to keep it just two,
she told press. I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good. If I feel good looking-wise, I perform better and I feel great.
While her jewelry and custom accessories draw praise, her apparel partnership with Nike has occasionally sparked online friction. She is the world No. 1. She has been the most dominant player in women’s tennis for the better part of two years. And yet, heading into Flushing Meadows again, Nike still has not given her a custom kit. The Belarusian revealed her 2026 US Open outfit on social media this week — a black mesh dress layered over an orange-and-red two-piece — and what followed was a wave of fan frustration that quickly turned into a full-blown argument about how Nike treats its biggest women’s tennis star. The outfit is not exclusive to Sabalenka. It is a shared Nike line, which means other players on Nike’s roster could walk onto a court this August wearing the same design. For a player who is going for three US Open titles in a row — something no woman has done since Serena Williams — fans see that as a genuine slight. Sabalenka enters the final Grand Slam of the season maintaining a dominant tour record, balancing custom gear, biometric tracking, and high-stakes competition as she defends her status at the top of women’s tennis.
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