Taylor Townsend steals the spotlight with a daring all-black outfit at the US Open

Taylor Townsend arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium for her US Open round of 16 match against Aryna Sabalenka dressed as if she’d stepped onto a catwalk rather than one of tennis’ biggest stages.

The American turned heads with her all-black ensemble for her walk with a dramatic, flowing silhouette that instantly stood out from the usual tennis look. The outfit had a lustrous, sculptural quality, giving Townsend an imposing presence as she made her way to court.

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It was another chapter in what has been a fashionable US Open for Townsend. The 30-year-old donned a different look of her own for each round of this year’s tournament, with designer Anthony Lattimore and stylist J. Bolin creating outfits that deliberately blur the line between sport and fashion. Designs feature hand-hemmed fringe, sequins and sculptural elements, while maintaining the flexibility and support that high-level tennis demands.

The fashion statement also fits into Townsend’s broader approach to clothing. After years without a clothing sponsor, she has spoken of wanting the freedom to express herself through what she wears and has developed her own fashion identity alongside her tennis career.

But the dramatic black look could not become the headline of the evening.

TOWNSEND’S IMPRESSIVE RUN ENDS AGAINST SABALENCE

Townsend entered the 16-year-old’s match as the world’s No. 96, but with a reputation as her best tennis player at Flushing Meadows. In the fourth round, she already defeated Maja Chwalinska 6-2, 6-3, Talia Preston 6-1, 6-1 and Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3.

She refused to be intimidated against the Sabalians. The opening set featured a remarkable sequence of breaks as Townsend repeatedly found ways to trouble the defending champion. She also moved to 3-1 in the second set and briefly raised hopes of a major upset.

But Sabalenka’s strength and composure ultimately proved decisive. The world number one recovered and won the second set won 6:4, 6:3thus ending Townsend’s singles campaign.

Although she exited the singles draw, Townsend made sure again that her tennis wasn’t the only thing people were talking about at the US Open.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

07 Sep 2026 0:32 IST