Aryna Sabalenka may have been all smiles after unveiling her new Nike outfit for this year’s US Open, but the reaction from tennis fans has been far less enthusiastic.

In the modern game of tennis, fashion has become almost as much a part of a player’s identity as their serve, with on-court apparel often reflecting the player’s personality and playing style.

With the world No. 1 revealing the kit she will wear in New York, it was clear that Nike had opted for one of their boldest designs yet, though, that seems to have backfired.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Nike Outfit Criticised

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

Sabalenka’s outfit features a radioactive orange-themed top and shorts, combined with a black mesh overlay, a look seemingly intended to reflect her explosive power and aggressive brand of tennis.

While the concept remains ambitious, many supporters feel the execution has fallen well short of the mark.

The design represents a notable departure from the outfits that the world No. 1 has worn at the year’s previous Grand Slams. Her Australian Open attire featured an energetic blend of pink, orange, and black, while her French Open kit embraced a striking red-and-black colour scheme that seemed to suit her aggressive playing style far more naturally.

The mesh concept, however, is not entirely new for Nike. Earlier this year, Jannik Sinner retained his Wimbledon title wearing a jacket featuring a similar perforated mesh design, engineered to maximise comfort while introducing a more modern aesthetic.

The mesh design also serves a practical purpose, providing greater breathability as temperatures climbed to 33°C during this year’s championship.

Nike have now carried this same philosophy across the pond into the US Open collection, though, the reception to Sabalenka’s outfit has been considerably less favourable.

This is not the first time the sportswear giant has faced criticism over the Belarusian’s Grand Slam wardrobe, with supporters questioning why the world No. 1 had not received a bespoke outfit at the French Open after noticing fellow Nike athlete Oksana Selekhmeteva wearing the same red-and-black design.

Following the reveal of Sabalenka’s latest outfit, it did not take long for social media to erupt, with many fans accusing Nike of completely missing the mark.

Tennis Fans Dislike Sabalenka’s Attire

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

One supporter on X claimed it looked like the tennis star was going fishing, while others have claimed that Nike have embarrassed her.

Others were even more scathing in their assessment, with one fan saying: “Words cannot express how much I absolutely hate this kit. What in the actual f*** is Nike doing?”

Regardless of the reaction to her wardrobe, Sabalenka’s tennis will once again command the greatest attention in New York as she looks to secure the fifth Grand Slam of her career.

The Belarusian star will arrive at Flushing Meadows chasing history, bidding to become just the third woman in the Open Era—and only the fifth player of all time—to win three consecutive US Open titles when the tournament gets underway on the 23rd of August.

That attention will only intensify as she teams up with Novak Djokovic in one of the most anticipated partnerships of the tournament’s mixed doubles competition.

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign one of the best wingers in European football, but they have their eye on another player instead.

Man United‘s main summer transfer focus has, unsurprisingly, been on strengthening the central midfield area after Casemiro’s exit was compounded by Manuel Ugarte suffering a serious knee injury for Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup.

The Red Devils had looked set to bring in Ederson from Serie A outfit Atalanta, but a move broke down amid concerns over the Brazil international’s medical.

Still, United have completed the impressive double signing of two players with Premier League experience in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for a combined fee of £85m, the same price that Tottenham Hotspur paid for another former Red Devils target in Mateus Fernandes.

Club chiefs still want to land another midfielder for the engine room, with a number six on the agenda, with a feeling they are still yet to properly replace Casemiro’s profile.

Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni and Carlos Baleba are some of the names mentioned the most in recent weeks, but United could also look at other areas of the pitch too, including left-back and left-wing, especially if Marcus Rashford leaves.

Man United Offered Rafael Leao Transfer

via Reuters

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign AC Milan winger Leao ‘in recent hours’.

The Portugal international confirmed publicly this summer that he would like to leave the San Siro for a new challenge after seven years at the club, but with just over a month until the transfer window closes, no European team has made their move.

AC Milan are willing to sell but want to recoup £51m for him.

Leao was described as ‘one of the best LWs in the world’ by Como scout Ben Mattinson last year, and on his day he can be unplayable for opposition defenders.

Man United Want Francisco Conceicao Instead

via Reuters

According to the same report, while Jorge Mendes is pushing Leao to them and other clubs, the Red Devils prefer Juventus star Francisco Conceicao instead.

The 23-year-old attacker has impressed for Juve, scoring 11 goals and registering a further 11 assists in 82 appearances for the Old Lady.

The Turin-based outfit now value the Portugal international at €50m, which makes him cheaper than Leao, and he is younger too.

United’s hopes of landing Conceicao may have been boosted too, with TMW claiming that Juve may now need to make an ‘important’ sale this summer following the additions of Randal Kolo Muani and Karim Alajbegovic on Thursday.

One of the main differences between Leao and Conceicao is that the former plays from the left and the latter plays from the right, which again might hint at the fact that Marcus Rashford could be staying at Old Trafford for this season.

Indeed, the Red Devils or the player are yet to receive any offers from clubs that would be attractive, with Carrick said to be looking forward to working with him after his successful loan spell at Barcelona.

Football and gaming fans just received their biggest insight yet into the new and improved features of EA Sports FC 27. The developers’ Gameplay Deep Dive and accompanying Gameplay Pitch Notes covered the changes in every area of the pitch, with emphasis on giving autonomy back to the gamers.

The EA gaming community has criticised the overreliance on AI assistance in recent editions and EA have listened to the fans with their latest installment. The result is greater control across every mode within the game.

EA Sports have been building anticipation for the game with a steady stream of key information, as well as cover star Kylian Mbappé. But the deep dive into the new gameplay features is the biggest indicator as to what EA Sports FC 27 will look like.

Here’s a closer look at the biggest changes this year ahead of the game’s imminent release.

Manual Defending Gets the Biggest Makeover

EA Sports

Starting from the back and working their way forward, EA Sports FC 27 has taken a lot of power away from the AI defenders. Rather than mindlessly chasing the ball, they will instead wait for the gamer to take control and decide how they want to approach the attacker.

Positively, there are still scenarios where the AI defender will try to win the ball, for example, if an attacker runs into them. The developers have also reduced the interception range of AI defenders. This has helped to hand the defensive decision-making back to the gamer.

Improvements to Teammate Contain and jockeying speed are the biggest changes to Manual Defending and will help AI teammates to spot attacking danger earlier in the sequence of play.

Corner Kicks and Crossing Overhauled

EA Sports

The offensive side of EA Sports FC has also improved considerably, with the changes reflecting the chaos of modern set pieces.

After choosing where to deliver the corner, the camera now shifts to the penalty box, allowing the gamer to control the actions of attacking players. This allows greater control over runs, shielding, and switching.

The new Avoidance mechanic helps with this, allowing for smoother movement through crowded areas. Players contesting for the ball during corner kicks will also no longer automatically move into the best position to connect with the ball, providing a greater command over set piece strategy.

The changes to crossing also provide more freedom for the user. Rather than targeting a specific player with a cross, there is now more emphasis on delivering into space and dangerous areas. This has been introduced alongside greater precision for headers from corners and free kicks.

Passing and Through Balls Become More Manual

EA Sports

The emphasis on greater user control continues with the tweaks to passing. Through balls, ground passes, and lobbed passes now require more directional input from the gamer. This not only benefits attacking gameplay, but complements the defensive overhaul too.

Gamers are rewarded for the accurate aiming of passes, whilst giving defensive players the chance to intercept passes if they read the play correctly.

Unlike crossing, through passes are no longer geared towards hitting open spaces. The emphasis is on the skill of the gamer, all the while maintaining the vast range of creative passing options available to them.

More Intelligent Attacking AI

EA Sports

One of the most exciting updates is to the attacking AI’s improved off-the-ball movement. EA have introduced a new system, Attacking Spatial Awareness, that helps AI attackers to make smarter runs that avoid defenders.

Interestingly, the type of run made by the attacker is affected by the context of the attack. The developers have introduced new curved runs triggered by the gamer that also works in tandem with an improved awareness of the offside trap.

The updated spatial awareness system also helps AI attackers to identify open passing lanes to run into. And rather than running continuously into these spaces, AI attackers will stop after a certain distance before returning to their position, helping to maintain formational shape.

Much like the game’s exciting new social hub, AI attackers are being given more freedom to roam.

Major Boosts to Dribbling, PlayStyles, and Attributes

EA Sports

EA’s new Off-Balance Dribbling helps the game’s very best dribblers to shine during physical duels with defenders. Dribblers with the required balance, dribbling, and agility attributes will hold onto possession when under pressure from defenders. If a defender engages the skilled dribbler with shoulder charges or any form of contact, the dribbler will be more likely to stay in control of the ball and ride the challenge.

The most popular PlayStyles, such as the Finesse Shot and the Incisive Pass, have been adjusted to reduce the gap between these unique traits and core player attributes. This has resulted in player ratings that are more accurate and meaningful, regardless of whether they have a PlayStyle applied or not.