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Let’s start with something positive. This is also proof of strength to a certain extent Alina SabalenkaThe character of a four-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 in women’s tennis clearly didn’t adapt after losing to the shuffle 6-3 6-3. Nick Kyrgiosshe begged for a chance to try again. But no, please don’t. We don’t need to see another show from this circus, promoted as “battle of the sexes“.
Apart from the ugly courtroom and the glitchy and garbled television broadcast in Dubai, the scene was unwatchable.
Sabalenka deserved better than Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist with a career-high ranking of 13th who was stunned when she blasted a powerful winner from the baseline. She should have had nothing to prove after an outstanding season, reaching the finals of three of the four Grand Slams and win the U.S. Open. But in accepting the match, organized by Evolve, an organization representing both players, She opens the door for cynics Reduce the women’s game. Worryingly, she may have laid the groundwork for future such exhibitions that her professional colleagues will be dragged into in the name of “entertainment.”
After all, that’s what Sabalenka and Kyrgios say they’re fighting for. billie jane king In 1973, when she accepted the challenge of self-proclaimed machismo Bobby Riggs, she risked not only the advancement of women’s sports, but the feminist movement in America. The only similarity is, Kim said 52 years laterit’s men versus women.
Sabalenka brought her entertainment element into play from the start, taking to the court in a shimmering sequined jacket to the sounds of “.”tiger eye” She and Kyrgios have a rapport – they did multiple interviews together to promote the match – and the players were laughing throughout the opening period. Kyrgios, who has played just six competitive matches over the past three years due to injury, accepted the role the pantomime demanded, serving under the armpit. Midway through the second set, Sabalenka took advantage of a timeout called by Kyrgios to dance.”Macarena“.
It all feels unserious but could be so damaging to the sport. Thoughts on Sabalenka’s rivals on the women’s tour, e.g. Coco Gough and Iga Swiatekand her dancing like a clown during the loss may provide ammunition to those decrying equal pay at the Grand Slams and other tournaments. Then there is the modified court. Sabalenka’s court is nine percent smaller. Obviously, According to the organizers, Evolvebecause women move nine percent slower than men.
Before the game, the focus was on whether Sabalenka could use her powerful base ball to penetrate Kyrgios. In the early stages, Sabalenka found some fun by opening up angles to attack the larger side of the court, firing the winning shot from the baseline. Sabalenka struggled with the first-serve limit, though, and Evolve said the rule change was meant to offset Kyrgios’ natural power advantage. Initially, the one-serve limit only applied to Kyrgios, but he successfully argued that it should apply to both players.
This means the Australians still hold a clear advantage. Sabalenka played loosely in the first set. Under pressure, she made two service errors at 40-15. Afterwards, footage from Dubai exploded, leaving BBC commentators Andrew Cotter and Annabel Croft to listen to the audience’s reactions as much as the rest of us, but the second set had the distinct feel of off-season show material. Kyrgios recovered from the collapse to win the match while the crowd sounded like they were losing interest.
As expected, there is very little to learn. Sabalenka can beat Kyrgios at certain points early on, but the spin and chipping Kyrgios generates usually proves the difference in most games.
Kyrgios said something stupid after the match, calling his match with Sabalenka a “stepping stone for tennis forward” and “the thing the world has been talking about for the past six months.” No one bought it. He also gets very little out of it, other than working on his physical fitness as he moves toward his goal. Return to men’s tour in January And maybe some PR, since he was forced to Keep your distance from Andrew Tait Like the social media posts of openly misogynistic right-wing influencers.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, sounded as if she felt she had let herself down. She also gives the impression that this is a reimagining.”battle of the sexesBrand will be touring outside of Dubai in a shameless pursuit of more attention and eyeballs. “I feel like next time, when I play him, I already know the tactics, I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and it will definitely be a better game,” the Belarusian said. “So maybe we can do it again at some point. I like revenge. I like to challenge myself. ”
Very sad to hear that. Sabalenka should be judged by her performance against the best players on the WTA Tour. They provide enough engaging drama. Instead, after the women’s world number one lost to a man described as “a figure largely irrelevant to the men’s tour” during the BBC’s pre-match broadcast, Sabalenka’s peers may feel that a worrying new desire to pit the best women in the world against ordinary male opponents is just beginning.