Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Reuters
—
Nick Kyrgios beat Aryna Sabalenka 6‑3 6‑3 on Sunday in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match billed as a contemporary tackle Billie Jean King’s well-known win over Bobby Riggs over 50 years in the past, however one which ignited controversy over its relevance and which means.
The clash between four-times Grand Slam champion Sabalenka and former world quantity 13 Kyrgios was billed as leisure however critics warned that it risked decreasing ladies’s tennis to a sideshow and trivializing its progress towards equality.
The match that gave the occasion its identify was the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” when ladies’s tennis pioneer King beat 55-year-old former Grand Slam winner Riggs, who had mentioned that the normal of ladies’s tennis might by no means match that of the males’s recreation.
King informed the BBC that though this yr’s conflict carried the similar tagline, it lacked the stakes of her showdown with Riggs, a contest she described as a struggle for social change in a vastly completely different cultural period.
“I don’t think many people would have put their hand up to be in this position, especially in my position,” Kyrgios mentioned.
“Obviously, Aryna was up for the challenge. The scoreline was closer than it was. I was under the pump there … and then anything happens once the crowd gets behind it. I was nervous.”
Playing in entrance of a sold-out crowd at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, Kyrgios negotiated the barely smaller “equalizer” courtroom on ladies’s world primary Sabalenka’s aspect to safe victory after an entertaining contest performed beneath modified guidelines.
With a one-serve-per-point rule in impact, each gamers faltered on their deliveries in essential moments earlier than Kyrgios broke for a 4-3 lead and went on to take the opening set.
The maverick Australian was drenched in sweat and appeared out of breath in the second set after going 1-3 down, whereas his opponent danced to the music throughout a strategic timeout, however he persevered to make it 3-3 after Sabalenka despatched a shot lengthy.
Unlike Riggs, who had lengthy retired from the males’s tour when he took on fellow American King, Kyrgios is an energetic participant on the ATP Tour though his latest seasons have been blighted by a succession of wrist and knee accidents.
The former Wimbledon runner-up, a serious draw on and off the courtroom along with his pure expertise and charisma, managed solely 5 skilled singles matches in 2025.
“It was a really tough match,” Kyrgios added.
“She’s a hell of a competitor and such an important champion. Obviously, she’s a a number of Grand Slam champion. And I didn’t actually know what to anticipate.
“As I mentioned earlier than this entire occasion, no matter function I used to be to play, it was one other nice alternative to exit right here. She broke my serve quite a few instances. And truthfully, I needed to strap it as a result of she was placing the stress on; hitting superb pictures. I might like to play her once more and showcase her expertise and in addition what I’ve left in the tank. Ultimately, it was a very hard-fought battle and there have been breaks forwards and backwards.
“Seeing someone as great as Aryna out here, and myself, it truly is a spectacle and I think this is a great moving stepping stone forward for the sport of tennis.”
Kyrgios, who shortened the factors with cheeky drop pictures and used variations on his serve to good impact, pulled away and sealed the victory on serve earlier than sharing a heat embrace with Belarusian Sabalenka at the internet.
“I think I put on a great fight,” Sabalenka mentioned.
“He was struggling. He bought actually tight. I’m comfortable to see that the man is getting tight and (after) taking away one of my serves. I believe it was an important stage.
“I made a lot of great shots, moved a lot to the net … great drop shots, Nick, great serving. I really enjoyed the show and I feel like the next time when I play him, I already know the tactics. I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and it’s going to be a better match for sure.”