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Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the latest “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match on Sunday, but tennis fans criticized the event for several reasons.
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.
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Nick Kyrgios, left, and Aryna Sabalenka interact at the net 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 meaning. Kyrgios, who had been sidelined by injuries since his appearance in the 2022 Wimbledon final, faced the disadvantage of Sabalenka’s side of the court being almost 10% smaller in an attempt to level the playing field. Players were given one serve per point, instead of two.
The match seemed to fail before the fans.
Sabalenka, one of the best players in women’s tennis, said the match was good preparation for the upcoming season as the Australian Open is just around the corner.
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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)
“I really enjoyed the show,” he said, “and I feel like the next time I play him I’ll know the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it will definitely be a better match.”
He added: “I don’t understand how people could find anything negative about this event.”
Kyrgios acknowledged that he had to “buckle up” for the match, which was held in Dubai.
“I think this is a big step forward for the sport of tennis,” he said.
Aryna Sabalenka holds her goddaughter alongside Nick Kyrgios as they pose with trophies after their Battle of the Sexes tennis match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
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At the end of the event, both competitors smiled while holding the trophies.
