“Battle of the Sexes”: Aryna Sabalenka wants rematch against Nick Kyrgios with new rules

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, world number one tennis player beaten at the end of December by Nick Kyrgios during the “Battle of the Sexes”, declared this Thursday that she wanted a rematch against the Australian.

Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist (2022) who fell below 650th place in the world, won 6-3, 6-3 during this exhibition match in Dubai on December 28. To balance the proceedings, Sabalenka’s side of the court had been reduced by 9% and both opponents had only one serve

“I think I would do it again in a heartbeat.” I need to take my revenge. I don’t like to leave things unresolved,” Sabalenka said on Thursday before the start of the Brisbane tournament, in preparation for the Australian Open (January 18-February 1).

“I think for the next match we will come up with a different format,” she said. “Before the meeting, I didn’t realize that I would have to adapt and it was a little difficult for me. I think I would keep the full court, but I would take two serves. This would balance our level much more,” said the 27-year-old, winner of four Grand Slam tournaments.

This 2025 “Battle of the Sexes” was reminiscent of that which pitted former American champion Bobby Riggs, then aged 55, in 1973 against the two best players of the time, Margaret Court Smith and then Billie Jean King.

Mixed reactions

It was a question of women asserting their worth while their professional circuit was being organized and King’s victory over Riggs, who had initially dominated Court Smith, had a certain impact.

The Dubai remake received mixed reactions, both because of the quality of the match and its usefulness, like Billie Jean King. “Our match was about social change (…) this is not the case” of the confrontation between Kyrgios and Sabalenka, insisted the American, while the women’s circuit is now well established and the financial allocations paid to women have increased significantly since the 1970s.