Nick Kyrgios defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena. Despite Sabalenka’s status as a four-time Major winner and Kyrgios’s current ranking of 671 after a long injury layoff, the Australian secured a straight-sets victory in front of a capacity crowd.
To balance the contest, organizers introduced an "equalizer" court where Sabalenka’s side was reduced by 9 percent, creating a trapezium-shaped playing surface. Additionally, players were restricted to a single serve per point. While the smaller court was intended to negate Kyrgios’s biological advantages, the one-serve rule appeared to favor the Australian’s high-velocity delivery.
Sabalenka struggled with the altered dimensions and recorded a high number of unforced errors, while Kyrgios broke late in the first set to take a 4-3 lead and eventual control of the match.
The event leaned into a high-production atmosphere, with Sabalenka arriving to the "Rocky" theme song, "Eye of the Tiger" in a bedazzled jacket and legendary footballers Ronaldo and Kaka in attendance.
Kyrgios appeared visibly exhausted by the second set, trailing 1-3 at one point, while Sabalenka entertained the crowd by dancing the Macarena during a strategic timeout. However, Kyrgios used a variety of drop shots and heavy slices to win five consecutive games, sealing the win before the two shared a hug at the net.
Following the match, Kyrgios praised his opponent, stating, “She is a hell of a player and such a great champion. She broke my serve numerous times, and I had to strap in.” He added that it was a “hard-fought battle” that could have gone either way.
Sabalenka, who is preparing for the upcoming Australian Open, expressed a desire for a rematch to seek “revenge,” noting, “Next time I play him I'm going to know the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it's going to be a better match, for sure.”
Despite the entertainment value, the exhibition drew sharp criticism for lacking the cultural weight of its 1973 predecessor. Billie Jean King distanced this event from her historic victory over Bobby Riggs, telling the BBC, “The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That’s it. Everything else, no. Ours was about social change.”
While Kyrgios claimed the match was a "stepping stone" for the sport, critics argued that the gimmick-heavy format functioned more as a commercial spectacle than a meaningful sporting contest.
