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Alina Sabalenka face Nick Kyrgios Modified rules used in modern ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis exhibition matches a controversial match.
September, Kyrgios Claims he can beat SabalenkaThe No. 1 woman and four-time Grand Slam champion also suggested he didn’t need to try “100 percent” to win.
In response, Sabalenka said she would “kick his ass,” and Evolve, the agency representing both players, officially announced the controversial matchup, which now comes amid the sport’s offseason.
In the original “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, with King’s victory in Houston becoming one of the most famous matches of all time.
Sabalenka has been the best player in the world for the past few seasons and won her fourth Grand Slam title Defeated Amanda Anisimova in U.S. Open final September.
Critics of the contest, which will be broadcast on the BBC, have pointed out the differences between the contest and the original Battle of the Sexes in 1973, which was aimed at achieving social change, which they argue It gives misogynists a platform Reduce the women’s game.
When does the “Battle of the Sexes” happen?
The match between Sabalenka and Kyrgios will take place on Sunday, December 28 at 3:45pm GMT (UK time). The venue for the match will be the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
TV channels and how to watch them
It will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Clare Balding will host the show and Andrew Cotter will provide commentary.
What are the rules?
Players will only be able to serve once each, and the court area on Sabalenka’s side will be reduced by nine percent. The match will be a best-of-three-set format with a tie-break worth 10 points to determine the winner if necessary.
Organizer Evolve, which represents Kyrgios and Sabalenka, said Sabalenka’s side of the court will be smaller to “reflect the difference in average movement speed between men and women”, while players will have just one chance to serve to offset the Australian’s strength.
What else did Aryna Sabalenka say?
Sabalenka was asked about the “Battle of the Sexes” game and some of Kyrgios’ comments during the U.S. Open in September.
“I think it’s a cool idea, you know. I think it would be spectacular to watch,” she said. “It’s going to be fun, especially against a guy like Nick.
“Like he said in another interview, I honestly thought I was going to win, I was going to go out and I was going to try to kick his ass.”
In a press release confirming the exhibition event, Sabalenka added: “I have the utmost respect for Billie Jean King and everything she has done for the women’s game.
“I’m proud to represent women’s tennis and be part of a modern version of this iconic battle of the sexes.
“Dubai is my home and I know the city loves big, entertaining events. I have the utmost respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I’m ready to give my best performance.”
What did Nick Kyrgios have to say about the game?
Due to injury, Kyrgios played only five official matches in 2025 and withdrew from Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. As his ranking plummeted to 671st, he Aiming for return at Australian Open.
“Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character,” Kyrgios said a few months ago. “I’m really excited about it. I think she’s the type of player who really thinks she’s going to win.
“she [Sabalenka] It won’t defeat me. Do you really think I have to try 100%? I’ll give it a try. Because I represent the men’s team. I would say maybe 6-2.
“I’m not going to go out there and say, ‘Oh, she’s so good, I can’t play this.'” That would make me look bad. I imagined the internet would go crazy – go crazy.
“I mean, our serves, women can’t really hit back,” Kyrgios also claimed. “Then we can chip and lob.
“I think I’ll be fine. I’m going out there and I don’t want her to win. That’s for sure.”
In a press release announcing the Battle of the Sexes, Kyrgios said: “When the number one in the world challenges you, you answer the call. I have huge respect for Alina; she is a powerhouse and a true champion.
“But I never back down from a challenge and I’m not just here to compete – I’m here to entertain. That’s what I live for. Get ready to put on a show, Dubai, because I’m going to bring excitement to the Coca-Cola Arena.”
What happened in the “Battle of the Sexes” of 1973?
Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King reluctantly agreed to take on self-proclaimed “macho pig” Bobby Riggs after defeating Margaret Court in a match that became known as the “Mother’s Day Massacre.”
King was 29 years old and one of the top women’s players in the world when she faced Riggs. Riggs is a former world No. 1 men’s player who, at 55, boasts that he can beat any woman.
In the most-watched tennis match to date, played by 30,000 spectators in Houston and an estimated 90 million around the world, King defeated Riggs in straight sets. It created a moment that helped unify the power of the American feminist movement.
