Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios: Battle of the Sexes exhibition match draws mixed reaction

The fourth 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match took place on December 28, 2025, in Dubai, where women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka (27) faced Australian Nick Kyrgios (30). The match used modified rules including one serve per point and a 9% smaller court for Sabalenka to compensate for physical differences. While Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam winner and reigning US Open champion, Kyrgios is ranked 652nd after injury struggles, having not played an ATP Tour match since March. The event, promoted by sports agency Evolve, has drawn criticism from figures including Billie Jean King, who won the iconic 1973 Battle of the Sexes against Bobby Riggs, calling this version 'very different' as it focuses on entertainment rather than social justice. Both players expressed confidence before the match, with Sabalenka vowing to 'kick Nick's ass' and Kyrgios claiming he would win despite acknowledging Sabalenka's 'serious weapons.' The original 1973 match drew 90 million worldwide viewers.