‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match falls flat with fans

Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday in the latest “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, but tennis fans found fault with the event for several reasons.

The name “Battle of the Sexes” was borrowed from the historic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. King won the match in four straight sets and helped launch efforts to launch a women’s tour and achieve equal pay in tennis.

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Nick Kyrgios, left, and Aryna Sabalenka interact at the net during their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool Photo via AP)

The Kyrgios-Sabalenka match does not seem to have the same cultural significance. Kyrgios, who had been sidelined with injuries since his last appearance at Wimbledon in 2022, was disadvantaged by Sabalenka’s side of the court being almost 10% smaller in a bid to level the playing field. Players were receiving one serve per point, instead of two.

The match seemed to fail with the fans.

Sabalenka, one of the best players in women’s tennis, said the match was good preparation for next season as the Australian Open fast approaches.

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Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios laugh before their “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool photo via AP)

“I really enjoyed the show,” she said, “and I feel like the next time I face him, I will know the tactics, his strengths and weaknesses, and it will be a better match, for sure.”

She added: “I don’t understand how people could find anything negative in this event.”

Kyrgios admitted he had to “buckle in” for the match, which took place in Dubai.

“I think it’s a great stepping stone for the sport of tennis,” he said.

Aryna Sabalenka holds her goddaughter next to Nick Kyrgios as they pose with trophies after their “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool photo via AP)

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At the end of the event, both competitors were smiling while holding up the trophies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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