SYDNEY — Assured of defeating Aryna Sabalenka in subsequent month’s so-called “Battle of the Sexes”, Nick Kyrgios admits he’s feeling some strain.
World No. 1 Sabalenka and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios introduced the date and venue of the tennis exhibition (December 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) earlier this week.
“I used to be in Hong Kong just lately and loads of the boys had been like, ‘Look, you characterize all of us.’ So right here I’m on the entrance strains once more,” Kyrgios advised the Australian Related Press on Friday. “I am not used to criticism from the media, however I am excited regardless of the result’s.
“I’ll go on the market and present the world that as a lot as she’s good, she’s additionally acquired her weaknesses.”
The title “Battle of the Sexes” was borrowed from the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs on the Houston Astrodome, which King received in straight units.
Kyrgios, who has performed solely six tour-level matches prior to now three years because of wrist and knee accidents, stated he could be hitting to a smaller facet of the courtroom, which might be almost 10 per cent smaller than Sabalenka’s goal, giving him much less room to hit winners.
The 2 fighters had been initially scheduled to face one another in an exhibition in New York on December 8, however the match has not been scheduled, with Sabalenka dealing with Naomi Osaka and Kyrgios dealing with Tommy Paul.
Kyrgios stated he had the utmost respect for Sabalenka.
“I feel we clearly have doubtlessly among the finest girls’s gamers of all time, however she’s removed from even scratching the floor of what she will obtain,” he advised AAP. “I feel she is going to win extra Grand Slams.
“Actually, she talks about this struggle a little bit greater than I do, however I am prepared for that problem. I’ll go there, however to be sincere, it is loads of strain on me as properly.”
That stated, whereas acknowledging that Sabalenka can have nearly all of the gang on his facet, Kyrgios cited a pedigree that locations him within the uncommon group of gamers who’ve crushed the entire so-called Huge 4: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He turned solely the second participant to win their first match, becoming a member of Nadal (Wimbledon 2014), Federer (Madrid 2015) and Djokovic (Acapulco 2017).
“Look, I am very assured,” he stated. “So there are 16 folks on the planet who’ve ever crushed the Huge 3 and Huge 4.
“So I am very assured, however I am additionally very conscious that she’s harmful.”
Though he was ranked 652nd after being away from the sidelines for thus lengthy, the 30-year-old Australian was assured he could be match sufficient to play inside a month.
“I am prepared,” he stated. “I really feel good.”
