A new Battle of the Sexes clash is set to take place during the off-season, featuring the women’s world No.1 taking on a former men’s Wimbledon finalist.
Aryna Sabalenka is set to lock horns with Nick Kyrgios on December 28th at the Coca-Cola Arena in the United Arab Emirates. There had been speculation about the upcoming exhibition match before an official announcement was made on Tuesday. According to the South China Morning Post, there were rumors that it would be staged in Hong Kong, but this is not the case.
Historically, there have been three previous matches that have been labelled as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’, with the most renowned being the one between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. Riggs, who boasted at the time he could beat any female player at the age of 55, was beaten by King in a live televised match. However, the first match was between Riggs and Margaret Court, which took place four months earlier in 1973. Then, in 1992, Jimmy Connors faced Martina Navratilova in a match that was played under hybrid rules.
“I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women’s game. I’m proud to represent women’s tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match,” Sabalenka said in a press release.
“Dubai is my home, and I know this city loves big, entertaining events. I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I’m ready to bring my A-game. I can’t wait to step on that court at the Coca-Cola Arena and put on an incredible show for the fans.”
The upcoming encounter will be part of Kyrgios’ warm-up for his return to professional tennis following a long absence due to injury. He has played just five matches across four tournaments this year, with the last of those being in March at the Miami Masters. In a recent podcast, Kyrgios admitted that next year’s Australian Open could be the last one he plays before retiring.
“When the world No.1 challenges you, you answer the call. I’ve got massive respect for Aryna; she’s a powerhouse and a true champion. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and I’m not just here to play – I’m here to entertain. This is what I live for,” said Kyrgios.
There has been no public disclosure of how much each player will receive for participating in the event, which is being organised by TLive and IM8.
Battle of the sexes matches
- Bobby Riggs USA def Margaret Court AUS 6-2, 6-1 (May 13th, 1973 in California)
- Billie Jean King USA def Bobby Riggs USA 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 (September 20th, 1973 in Texas)
- Jimmy Connors USA def Martina Navratilova USA 7-5, 6-2 (September 25th, 1992 in Las Vegas)
