Aryna Sabalenka didn't notice new Cincinnati court color

“The first moment I came, I was so confused,” joked the world No. 1 after her third-round victory over Emma Raducanu. “I was like, ‘Where am I?’ it’s all so beautiful, so new. I like that. It’s just so fresh and you know, sometimes, after coming back to the same place for like, five or seven years, you want to see something new and unexpected. I’m really happy with the improvements.”

But one change went over her head—even though it was right under her sneakers.

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Q. I just wanted to ask about one of the changes to the tournament this year, which is the court color. They changed to this bright blue…
ARYNA SABALENKA: Did they? I think because it’s new.

Q. They changed the court color this year. It was green on the outside last year…
ARYNA SABALENKA: No…(laughs)

Q. You won this tournament last year. Look at any photos of you…
ARYNA SABALENKA: My memory is terrible. I don’t remember what happened to me last week and you’re asking me last year. Really? It was green?

Q. Like the US Open: blue on the inside and then green…You ever see a match on TV, and you can see the whole court? It’s green on the outside…
ARYNA SABALENKA: Ok, I’m going to look.

Q. You didn’t notice. But what do you think of the new color?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I like it! It’s bright. It’s beautiful. (laughs) But I like it. Green is my favorite color...

Q. But the green is gone.
ARYNA SABALENKA: So, it’s gone, but green is my favorite color. I like blue as well. As long as it’s not…orange? I’m happy with it.

And so, Sabalenka sent a fair warning shot to the US Open: no tangerine courts in 2025.

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