Sabalenka to battle Kyrgios in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match

Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top female athlete, will face Australian superstar Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match on December 28 in Dubai, according to the organisers’ announcement on Tuesday.

In a contemporary adaptation of Billie Jean King’s 1973 showdown with fellow American Bobby Riggs, Sabalenka, 27, will face Kyrgios. This was a pivotal moment for both tennis and the women’s movement.

Around 90 million people tuned in to watch King storm win the straight-sets victory that propelled the fight for equality in sports, which was played in Houston’s Astrodome.

Riggs, who was 55 years old, had defeated Australia’s Margaret Court four months prior to King, who had sought revenge.

Under modified rules, eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors, 40, defeated 35-year-old Martina Navratilova in 1992.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said in a statement, “I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women’s game.

“I’m proud to play in this contemporary adaptation of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match and represent women’s tennis.”

In the past few months, Sabalenka and Kyrgios have made numerous jokes about the match, with the initial location of the match Hong Kong.

Since returning from a serious wrist injury that required him to be out for 18 months, world number 652 Kyrgios, who has only played five games this year, said he could easily defeat Sabalenka.

The Belarusian said she was determined to disprove Kyrgios when asked about the Australian’s remarks during her bid for the US Open.

Make no mistake, I’m ready to bring my A game, Sabalenka said, “I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent.”

In 2016, Kyrgios ranked 13th in his career, and he also made it to Wimbledon’s final in 2022.

With his natural talent and unapologetic personality, which have also gotten him into controversy in the past, the 30-year-old is a major draw at Grand Slams.

The Dubai Coca-Cola Arena will host the game.