Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios on Sunday in a highly anticipated “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka will take on the 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist in a modern version of tennis icon Billie Jean King’s historic 1973 showdown with Bobby Riggs, a match widely seen as a turning point for both tennis and the women’s movement.
The match will be played over best-of-three sets with several modified rules. Players will be limited to one serve instead of two, Sabalenka’s side of the court will be nine percent smaller than a standard court, and a 10-point tiebreak will be used if the match goes to a deciding set.
Kyrgios, who reached a career-high ranking of 13 in men’s singles, challenged Sabalenka during the US Open in September, saying he could easily beat her without trying at full intensity.
He claimed women cannot return professional men’s serves and said he would defeat the world’s top-ranked female player.
Sabalenka responded by saying she was ready to take him on, leading Evolve, the marketing agency that represents both players, to organize this weekend’s match.
Speaking before the match, Sabalenka said she enjoys unpredictable challenges and sees facing difficult opponents as a chance to grow and inspire others. She added that playing Kyrgios presents a unique test.
“That’s great training for me, and it sends a strong message to girls out there. I hope they watch and see how strong and tough I am for having the courage to challenge myself against a guy,” she said.
Kyrgios, on the other hand, has remained confident ahead of the encounter, saying he will beat the four-time Grand Slam champion without much effort.
