🔗 Share this article Sabalenka Ready to Take On Nick Kyrgios in Modern ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Match The top-ranked female player and the Australian star will meet at the 17,000-capacity Dubai arena. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will take on Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match in the UAE later this year. The Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, and thirty-year-old Aussie Kyrgios – currently placed 652nd in the world – are scheduled to play each other at the Dubai venue on 28 December. Four-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion. Kyrgios, who peaked at world number 13 in 2016, has only played five matches this year since returning from a serious wrist injury that sidelined him for a year and a half. He has been absent on the ATP Tour since exiting in the Miami Open second round in March. "I have a lot of respect for Nick and his skill, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my best performance," Sabalenka said. Past Context of Gender Showdowns A trio of recognized contests known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have taken place – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. US legend Riggs had beaten Australia's Margaret Court before King exacted revenge four months later. In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then thirty-five, under hybrid rules. "I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the female tennis," Sabalenka continued. "I'm proud to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match." Kyrgios, who made it to the 2022 Wimbledon final, expressed he will enjoy the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he has the same representative. "Being challenged by the top player, you step up to the plate. I've got massive respect for Aryna; she's a force and a true champion," he remarked. "But I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to thrill the crowd. This is what I thrive on." Fun Spectacle or Harmful to Women's Sport? – Viewpoint Tennis fans have been divided into two camps since rumblings of this exhibition began at the US Open in September. Some think it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will effectively draw the eyeballs of a newer, younger audience in the age of social-media content. Others believe it is a misguided venture – arranged by the Evolve management which the players both share – and creates an opportunity for female athletics to be undermined if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios. The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to attacking an former partner in 2023, then later had to distance himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a key factor why some critics believe this exhibition could unnecessarily fuel sexism and misogyny. Sabalenka does not seem to be overly concerned the event will have a detrimental effect on women's sports. Speaking about the idea at the US Open, she said it was a "cool idea" and laughed as she pledged to "defeat Nick convincingly". It is difficult, however, to see what she gains from the event – particularly if she is defeated to a man who has not been fit for a considerable period. For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his ongoing break from the tour and constantly in the public eye which he has repeatedly demonstrated he loves to be in. At this stage, details about the format of the match are still limited – although serving restrictions and potential court modifications are believed to have been discussed.