DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nick Kyrgios received tennis’s newest model of the “Battle of the Sexes” by defeating top-ranked ladies’s chief Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match that represented extra mild leisure than one other landmark second in gender equality.
There was laughter and banter among the many gamers, underarm serves, exaggerated groans on photographs, and even Sabalenka dancing to entertain the group throughout a timeout on the 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Enviornment in Dubai, the place the most costly tickets offered for practically $800.
Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, has performed solely six tour-level matches prior to now three years because of wrist and knee accidents, however at occasions gave the impression to be taking part in inside himself and confronted the drawback of Sabalenka’s facet of the courtroom being practically 10% smaller in an try and degree the taking part in area. Gamers have been solely given one serve per level as a substitute of two.
By the point Kyrgios clinched victory from his third match level, he was sweating and the pair have been each smiling broadly as they hugged one another on the web.
Kyrgios admitted he was nervous and felt he needed to “get agency”.
“I feel this can be a nice stepping stone for the game of tennis,” mentioned the Australian.
Sabalenka mentioned the match was good preparation for subsequent season, with the Australian Open in January, and mentioned she want to face Kyrgios once more to take “revenge”.
“The present was actually enjoyable,” she mentioned. “The subsequent time I play in opposition to him, I am positive will probably be a greater match as a result of I do know his techniques and his strengths and weaknesses.”
The so-called “Battle of the Sexes” borrowed its identify from the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs on the Houston Astrodome, which King received in straight units, and which happened throughout King’s efforts to launch a ladies’s tour and win equal pay in tennis.
Fifty-two years later, the newest model did not actually have any widespread cultural significance. As a substitute, Sabalenka and Kyrgios, members of the identical Evolve company that organized the exhibition, simply wished to placed on a present, entice a younger viewers, and generate income.
Kyrgios pled responsible in 2021 to pushing his ex-girlfriend to the bottom throughout an argument (he was spared a conviction for assault) and has beforehand spoken out in opposition to equal pay in tennis, so collaborating in such a match might be seen as a controversial alternative.
