Nick Kyrgios won the latest Battle of the Sexes match against the world’s best female tennis player on Sunday.
Kyrgios, ranked 671 in the world, defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The match wholly failed to live up to the high bar that had been set. A lacklustre intensity failed to capture the imagination of onlookers, and the unusual court set-up did little to boost excitement levels.
Simply put, the contest did not live up to its billing.
What was your opinion on the Battle of the Sexes match?
Greg Rusedski, the former world number four, has offered his thoughts on the contest between Kyrgios and Sabalenka.
Greg Rusedski says some of Nick Kyrgios’ play was ‘not a good look’
On X [formerly Twitter], Rusedski expressed his dismay regarding the event.
“I was intrigued to see the battle of the sexes,” the former British number one began.
“It is a just an exhibition and pointless. Not sure this helps tennis. Kyrgios underarm serve, drop shot etc. Not a good look.”
Rusedski later expanded upon his point on the ‘Off Court with Greg‘ podcast.
I did not enjoy it. I just felt Kyrgios was dictating,” Rusedski said.
“We saw it a little bit close in the first set. But I did not like the look of the courts. Then we had those double faults happen and Kyrgios started the underhand serve, the drop shots and so forth.
“Let’s not forget, he is 671st in the world. Did we actually need this, and is this good for tennis? I am not so sure.”
In an Instagram post after the match, Sabalenka said she hoped onlookers were ‘entertained’.
Entertainment or not, the event represented the very worst tennis has to offer: a soulless occasion that did little to inspire future generations or enhance the status of the women’s game.
Which two players in tennis history would you like to see in a Battle of the Sexes match?
Thankfully, the new season is set to get underway soon.
The United Cup, the first major event of the year, will take place in Australia. Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz are just some of the big names expected to play at the event.
Kyrgios and Sabalenka will play their first event of 2026 at the Brisbane International. Kyrgios, who has not played an ATP match since March, has received a wildcard for the singles event.
Kyrgios is also scheduled to play with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis in the doubles event. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis famously won the 2022 Australian Open Men’s Doubles title.
The first ever Battle of the Sexes
In 1973, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs contested the first-ever ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in front of a packed crowd at the Houston Astrodome in Texas, USA.
In what was a landmark moment for the progression of women’s tennis, King defeated Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3.
King famously said: “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match.”
“It would ruin the women’s [tennis] tour and affect all women’s self-esteem. To beat a 55-year-old guy was no thrill for me. The thrill was exposing a lot of new people to tennis.”
Earlier that year, King founded the Women’s Tennis Association.
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