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Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker running for Congress in Arizona, was among those who intervened in the criticized “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka.
In the match, Sabalenka had the advantage of leveling the playing field, as her side of the court was 10% smaller than her opponent’s. Feely on Sunday highlighted men’s participation in women’s sports.
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Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka embrace at the net at the end of their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool photo via AP)
“Please never believe the absolute garbage coming from ignorant liberals that letting men compete with women is not unfair to women,” he wrote on X in response to the party.
The name “Battle of the Sexes” was taken from the historic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. King won the match in four straight sets and helped launch efforts to start a women’s tour and gain equal pay in tennis.
The game didn’t seem to have the same effect on the fans.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios laugh before their Battle of the Sexes tennis match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
TENNIS STAR ARYNA SABALENKA SAYS FEMALE ATHLETES FACING TRANS COMPETITORS ‘NOT FAIR FOR WOMEN’
Sabalenka and Kyrgios defended the match, which the Australian won in two sets.
“I don’t understand how people could find anything negative about this event,” he said. “He was playing great tennis. It was an entertaining match. He won the match, but I showed great tennis… It was a great fight. It was interesting to watch.”
Kyrgios credited Sabalenka for standing her ground on the court.
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“There’s nothing but positives to take away from this,” Kyrgios said, adding that Sabalenka was with someone who had beaten Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in his career. “I had to work for it. I had to sweat. I had to play. I had to run. It wasn’t easy. Nothing was easy. So let’s get that narrative out there instead of all the negativity.”
