World number one, Aryna Sabalenka lost in two sets this Sunday to Nick Kyrgios during this exhibition match organized between a woman and a man in Dubai.
It was a match that stirred up the crowds as much as it caused controversy. This Sunday took place the meeting between the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, and the former Australian tennis hopeful Nick Kyrgios as part of a meeting between a woman and a man simply called “the battle of the sexes”. Organized in Dubai, the match between the current 671st player in the world and the leader of the WTA ranking will not go down in the annals of world tennis.
If this exhibition meeting between a man and a woman could arouse the curiosity of some, the spectacle on the court will not leave an indelible mark on fans of the beautiful game. Organized 52 years after the match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, this 2025 “battle of the sexes” will remain as a marketing stunt rather than a major breakthrough for world tennis and sport in general.
A modified pitch for Sabalenka
Proof of the marketing dimension of this meeting, you simply had to see the tennis court created for the occasion. In order to balance the debates, the side of the court on which Sabalenka played was reduced by 9%. Despite several blows specific to the world number one, the quality of this match will not mark the spirits and in particular the former footballers Ronaldo and Kaka present for the occasion. During the first set, the 27-year-old Belarusian was able to match the Australian by hanging on until halfway through the set with a score of 3-3, breaks and debreaks punctuating this start of the game without necessarily reaching a very high tennis level.
The second set was more expeditious from the Australian who quickly led 3-1 before taking advantage of his opponent’s numerous mistakes to win 6-3, 6-3 in 1h17 of play. For Sabalenka, this meeting notably allowed a little recovery before the first events of the year and in particular the Australian Open which will begin in a few weeks.
