The stars of men’s and women’s tennis rarely play one another, as they compete on the separate ATP and WTA Tours.
Due to the physical differences between the two genders, it’s generally believed that male tennis players would defeat their female counterparts.
Therefore, the tours are split, as men compete on the ATP Tour and women compete on the WTA Tour.
However, there are points in the season where men and women compete together, at team competitions and mixed doubles Grand Slam events.
Men have previously played women in several ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition matches, two of which took place in 1973.
But who won the most famous clash, when Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs 52 years ago?
Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’
Between 1939 and 1941, Riggs won three Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Remaining involved in the sport, in 1973, Riggs claimed that at 55 years of age, he could still beat any women’s tennis player.
Challenging King to a match, the American declined, as Riggs took on Australian tennis legend Margaret Court instead.
In a match dubbed the ‘Mother’s Day Massacre’, Riggs dominated Court 6-2, 6-1 in Ramona, California.
As the 55-year-old continued to taunt the top players on the women’s tour, King accepted a lucrative offer to play Riggs at the Houston Astrodome.
With $100,000 on the line, Riggs secured an early break over King before she fought back to clinch the first set 6-4.
Winning the second and third sets 6-3, 6-3, King defeated Riggs, as 50 million US tennis fans watched on TV.
A symbolic moment in women’s tennis history, King had accepted Riggs’ challenge and won comfortably.
‘Battle of the Sexes 3’ took place 19 years later, when Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova played each other.
Played under hybrid rules, the pair faced off in a match described by Navratilova as a ‘battle of egos’.
Hybrid rules of Jimmy Connors vs Martina Navratilova
- Jimmy Connors was allowed one serve per point
- Martina Navratilova could hit into half of the doubles alleys
In a tense affair, Navratilova made 36 unforced errors as Connors won in straight sets 7-5, 6-2.
Claiming the $500,000 prize, Connors won the ‘Battle of Champions’ in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Further exhibitions have taken place since, such as Serena Williams and Venus Williams vs Karsten Braasch, and Justine Henin vs Yannick Noah.
Another ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash has now been announced for 2025, as two of the biggest names in tennis prepare to do battle later this year.
Nick Kyrgios is really nervous for ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash with Aryna Sabalenka
During the latest episode of Wimbledon Unfiltered with Nick Kyrgios, the Aussie star revealed his plans for a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition later in the year.
“[Aryna] Sabalenka and I are thinking about doing a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ later in the year, where the court is going to be slightly smaller for me, with one serve,” said Kyrgios.
“We’re thinking about doing it later in the year in Hong Kong.”
Kyrgios admitted he is feeling nervous, but still backed himself to come away with the win.
“I’m really nervous for it to be honest, she’s in her absolute prime right now and she’s getting the wooden legs of me,” he said.
“But I’m still feeling confident that I can get her. The drop shot is my friend, I still think I’ve got enough variation and enough talent in the tank to take Sabalenka, but she’s fierce, and I’m feeling nervous.
“I think we’re both up for doing it, we’re very close, and I’m excited for it.”
It remains to be seen who will win when Kyrgios and Sabalenka face off in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash, but you certainly won’t want to miss it.
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