World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will officially take on Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ at the end of the year. The tennis stars had long teased a women’s vs men’s exhibition match, and Sabalenka has now confirmed that she will face the former Wimbledon runner-up in Dubai on December 28.
Former world No. 13 Kyrgios has not played an official match since March, and has spent the last three years plagued by knee and wrist injuries. He is currently ranked outside of the world’s top 650, while Sabalenka has claimed the year-end No. 1 spot for the second season running.
The fighting talk has already started. “I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I’m ready to bring my A-game,” Sabalenka said.
“I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women’s game. I’m proud to represent women’s tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match.”
The first official Battle of the Sexes match took place in May 1973, when retired Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Court 6-2 6-1. A few months later, Riggs suffered a 6-4 6-3 6-3 defeat to Billie Jean King in the most famous tennis match between a man and woman.
King’s victory was seen as a milestone moment for women’s tennis. In 1992, Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova 7-5 6-2. And Sabalenka is now keen to follow in King’s footsteps after arranging a modern iteration of the Battle of the Sexes.
But Kyrgios, who won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, will be keen to stop her.
The 30-year-old said: “When the world No. 1 challenges you, you answer the call. I’ve got massive respect for Aryna; she’s a powerhouse and a true champion. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and I’m not just here to play, I’m here to entertain. This is what I live for.”
Kyrgios has lifted seven singles titles during his career and finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022.
However, he has played just five official singles matches this year. His last appearance came at the Miami Open in March, when he beat Mackenzie McDonald to get his first win in more than two years, then lost to Karen Khachanov in round two.
Sabalenka and Kyrgios are signed to the same management agency and have long been teasing a Battle of the Sexes match. Speaking on the First and Red podcast earlier this year, the Australian said: “Obviously, we’re the same agency, me and Sabalenka.
“She’s awesome, by the way. Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character, but I’m super excited for that [match]. She’s the type of player that I think she genuinely thinks she’s going to win… she’s not going to beat me, bro. Do you really think I have to try 100 per cent?”
During the US Open, where she successfully defended her title, Sabalenka hit back. “Well I think it’s a cool idea, you know. It’s going to be spectacular to watch, it’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick,” she said.
“Like he said in another interview, that I genuinely think I’m going to win. And I’ll definitely go out there and try my best to kick his a**. It’s going to be a good thing if I beat him.”