KYRGIOS TOPS SABALENKA IN WILD BATTLE OF THE SEXES

In a spectacle that mixed tennis with showbiz, Nick Kyrgios beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in the latest Battle of the Sexes exhibition match in Dubai on Sunday.

Played at the Coca-Cola Arena in front of a packed crowd, the contest revived the famous format from Billie Jean King’s iconic 1973 showdown, but this time it felt more like entertainment than history-making sport.

The rules were tweaked to “equalise” play: Sabalenka’s side of the court was reduced by about 9 %, and both players were limited to just one serve per point rather than the usual two.

Even with those adjustments, Kyrgios, the former Wimbledon finalist now ranked outside the top 600 after injuries, managed to impose his aggressive style and net play to take both sets in around 70 minutes.

From the opening game, it was clear the match would be unique. Sabalenka made a grand entrance complete with a glittering overcoat and pumped-up walk-on music, and she wasn’t shy about showing her personality, even dancing during a strategic timeout.

But despite her fire, she couldn’t quite keep pace with Kyrgios’s unpredictable shot-making and clever use of drop shots.

Afterwards, Kyrgios was quick to praise his opponent, saying it had been “a really tough match” and calling Sabalenka “a hell of a competitor.” Sabalenka echoed the sentiment, saying she “put on a great fight” and would love a rematch now that she knows his game better.

Reactions to the event were mixed. While many fans enjoyed the light-hearted atmosphere complete with laughter, underarm serves and crowd-pleasing antics, critics argued the match lacked the social significance of the original King-Riggs contest, feeling more like a circus than a meaningful tennis moment.

Image credit: Sky News