🔗 Share this article

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will take on Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition event in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Belarus' Sabalenka, twenty-seven, and thirty-year-old Australian Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are scheduled to compete at the Dubai venue on December 28.

Four-times Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open champion.

Kyrgios, who peaked at world number 13 in 2016, has only played five matches this year since recovering from a significant wrist injury that kept him out for a year and a half.

He has been absent on the ATP Tour since losing in the Miami Open second round in March.

"I greatly admire Nick and his talent, but rest assured, I'm prepared to bring my best performance," Sabalenka said.

Historical Context of Gender Showdowns

Three official matches known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have taken place – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.

American veteran Riggs had defeated Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback four months later.

In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors overcame fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under hybrid rules.

"I deeply admire Billie Jean King and what she has done for the female tennis," Sabalenka continued. "It's an honor to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the legendary ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match."

Kyrgios, who made it to the 2022 Wimbledon championship match, said he will enjoy the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he has the same representative.

"Being challenged by the top player, you answer the call. I've got great admiration for Aryna; she's a powerhouse and a true champion," he said. "However I've never shied away 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 Female Athletics? – Viewpoint

Followers of the sport have been divided into two camps since rumblings of this exhibition started at the US Open in September.

Certain individuals believe it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will successfully attract the eyeballs of a younger demographic in the age of social-media content.

Another group feels it is a misguided venture – arranged by the Evolve management which the players both share – and sets up an opportunity for female athletics to be undermined if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios.

The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2023, then later had to distance himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a key factor why that camp believe this exhibition could provoke gender bias and misogyny.

Sabalenka does not seem to be too worried the event will have a negative impact on female athletics. Speaking about the possibility at the US Open, she said it was a "cool idea" and chuckled as she vowed to "kick Nick's ass".

It is hard, however, to see what she benefits from the event – particularly if she loses to a man who has not been fit for a long time.

For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his continued absence from the tour and firmly in the spotlight which he has repeatedly demonstrated he loves to be in.

At this stage, details about the format of the match are still scarce – although rules on serves and potential adjustments to the court are believed to have been discussed.