Sabalenka v Kyrgios: The key questions in ‘Battle of the Sexes’

The Battle of the Sexes-style encounter between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios has caused a lot of controversy, whether you like it or not.

On December 28th, the women’s world number one will face Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, in an exhibition match.

From 15:45 GMT, the event will be broadcast live on BBC One.

You’d anticipate Sabalenka to be the woman’s player who will defeat Kyrgios.

The 27-year-old Belarusian won four titles, including the US Open, and advanced to five other finals during the successful 2025 campaign.

Sabalenka has one of the best groundstrokes this season, ranking among the top five in service games won, and has been one of the most effective servers this year.

The four-time major singles champion is capable of overcoming opponents, but she is still susceptible to erratic behavior from the beginning.

Sabalenka has attempted to give her game more variety over the past season, winning 59 of her 71 matches with drop-shots and forward play.

She told BBC Sport, “I think I’ll be more prepared than this guy.”

If there is a decider, the exhibition will be the best of three sets, with a 10 point tie-breaker.

In an effort to restrict Kyrgios’ power and speed advantage, each player will only receive one serve. He believes that is the best leveler.

He told BBC Sport, “You’re completely removing my strength from it.”

She obviously does a fantastic job of serving herself, but the courtside balance is a little more even.

The men’s game is heavily reliant, dominated by first-serve percentage, and washed up quickly.

In the era of social media, some view the match as harmless entertainment that will appeal to a younger, younger audience.

Others think it’s a misguided move and that Sabalenka’s loss will give women’s tennis an opportunity to belittled.

Sabalenka disagrees.

“I don’t want to risk myself,” I say. We’re there to play tennis for fun and bring great prizes. She said, “Whoever wins, wins.”

“It’s obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but that’s not the point.”

This event will only contribute to raising the bar for women’s tennis.

Given that Kyrgios admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2021 and made a number of comments that were viewed as misogynistic, critics have questioned his suitability as the male protagonist.

Kyrgios claims he is not worried about losing because “he has not given” a second thought” about the event, which could lead to negative feedback about women’s sports.

“I’m never concerned,” I say. The former world number 13 remarked, “I know how I’ve responded to things in my life.”

Kyrgios’ talent has never been in doubt thanks to his explosive first serve, effortless power at the baseline, and creative shot-making.

Both his fitness and temperament have been questioned recently.

The Australian’s surgeon believed Kyrgios’ career would be ended by missing the majority of the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to a wrist injury.

Due to a knee injury, the 30-year-old hasn’t played an ATP Tour singles match since March, but he did so in January at the Australian Open.

He said, “In the past year, I’ve had some serious conversations with myself about how much I want to devote myself.”

Every time I go out, there is a lot of expectation, so I was wondering if I really wanted to put myself in a pressure cooker.

“But I’m feeling fantastic. I need to start looking after my body a little better now that I’m in my 30s.

Cynics have questioned the event’s precise purpose.

With an emphasis on fun, entertainment, and celebrity culture, Sabalenka and Kyrgios insist on bringing a different audience to the sport.

“There are question marks,” Kyrgios said, “and that scares people.”

It is thrilling and gives us that thrill, according to us. In the tennis industry, such things must happen more frequently, in my opinion.

The 17, 000-seat Coca-Cola Arena event is expected to be sold out.

On courtside benches, prices start at around £100 in the upper tier stands and go up to over £600.

People come watch sport for the unknown, which is why it isn’t played on paper, according to Kyrgios, “because that’s the same thing.”

They want to remember something, whether it is good or bad, that they will encounter in daily life.

Bobby Riggs defeated Billie Jean King in a 1973 Battle of the Sexes match, and King says it will be a “great” match but that it will not be her “her era-defining event.”

The victory of former Wimbledon champion Riggs, a 55-year-old self-declared chauvinist, overcame a historic moment in the fight for gender equality and opened the door for equal pay at the top of the game.