Can Kyrgios beat Sabalenka in the ‘Battle of the sexes’? He thinks so: “Women can’t return our serves”
The two tennis stars are set to go head-to-head in Dubai.
Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios has never been afraid of a headline, and his latest declaration might be his most ridiculous yet. The Australian star has challenged world number one Aryna Sabalenka to a “Battle of the Sexes” match, insisting that he would win comfortably.
Speaking on Alexander Bublik’s podcast, Kyrgios outlandishly claimed that women “can’t really return our serves” and predicted a 6-2 scoreline in his favour.
Half a century ago, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs made sporting history with their own “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973. King’s victory became a defining moment for women’s sport, breaking barriers and changing perceptions of gender equality in tennis. The proposed Kyrgios–Sabalenka contest aims to capture that same spark.
However, Sabalenka countered: “I genuinely think that I’m going to win. I’ll definitely go out there and I’ll try my best to kick his ass.”
“I think it’s cool idea, you know,” she added, “I think it’s gonna be spectacular to watch,” she said. “It’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick.”
Critics hit out at “utterly ludicrous” idea
However, despite the hype, some critics argue that it will have no lasting effect on women’s sports, at least not in a positive way. Catherine Whitaker, co-host of the Tennis Podcast, told the BBC that she sees “absolutely nothing to be gained for women’s tennis, I see only bleakness.”
Whitekaer called the event “a crass commercial venture and a vehicle for one of the most outspoken misogynists in tennis who just wants attention” adding that “if Sabalenka wins, she beats a man who is unfit and has been a total irrelevance for a number of years. What does she win? Nothing. Unless she wins 6-0 6-0, people will only find ammunition to fire at women’s tennis.
“If Kyrgios wins, he and others of the same mind will claim it legitimises everything he’s already spewing out. It’s disgusting to be giving him a platform. I find it utterly ludicrous this is going to be happening in 2025.”
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A date and location for the Sabalenka v Kyrgios match will be played at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday December 28. The time is still TBC.
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