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Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the latest “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match on Sunday, but tennis fans found fault with the event for several reasons.
The name “Battle of the Sexes” was borrowed from the historic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. King won the match in four straight sets and helped spark efforts to start a women’s tour and get equal pay in tennis.
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Nick Kyrgios, left, and Aryna Sabalenka interact online during their Battle of the Sexes match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool Photo via AP)
The Kyrgios-Sabalenka match did not seem to have the same cultural significance. Kyrgios, who had been sidelined by injury since his last appearance at Wimbledon in 2022, faced the disadvantage of Sabalenka’s side of the court being almost 10% smaller in an attempt to level the playing field. The players received one serve per points instead of two.
The match seemed to fall flat with the fans.
Sabalenka, one of the best players in women’s tennis, said the match was good preparation for next season, as the Australian Open is just around the corner.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios laugh ahead of their Battle of the Sexes tennis match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
“Really enjoyed the show,” she said, “and I feel that the next time I play him, I will know the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it will definitely be a better match.”
She added: “I don’t understand how people were able to find anything negative in this event.”
Kyrgios admitted he had to “buckle up” for the match, which was held in Dubai.
“I think this is a great stepping stone for the sport of tennis,” he said.
Aryna Sabalenka holds her goddaughter next to Nick Kyrgios as they pose with trophies after their Battle of the Sexes tennis match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
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At the end of the event, both contestants smiled as they held up trophies.
