Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka’s Battle of the Sexes match certainly divided opinion…
52 years after Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, Kyrgios and Sabalenka attempted to follow in their footsteps.
In one of the most talked-about matches of 2025, Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
What was your opinion on the Battle of the Sexes match?
Several players, past and present, commented on their Dubai clash, including Sabalenka’s rival, Iga Swiatek, who claimed she didn’t watch the Battle of the Sexes and that women’s tennis didn’t need the event.
Agreeing with Swiatek, former world number one Kim Clijsters highlighted the one problem she had with Kyrgios and Sabalenka’s exhibition match.
Kim Clijsters wishes Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka didn’t use the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ name
During the latest episode of ‘LOVE ALL‘, Clijsters shared her thoughts on the 2025 Battle of the Sexes.
“I think from the start, I wished they had changed the name, so you didn’t have that similarity and comparison to what Billie [Jean King] did in 1973,” she said.
“I think that would have maybe avoided a lot of the negative comments.
“It was still fun to watch; it brought a lot of new people to the sport, which is what we support.
“But I do love Iga’s approach to it, and the way she spoke about it.
“From a female player’s perspective, she summarised that whole thing very, very well.
“Very clear, very open, and honest about it.
“To me, if they had maybe changed the name to something different, they could create their own kind of brand around it.”
Clijsters believes they should have changed the name, and that’s not a bad idea at all.
Which two players in tennis history would you like to see in a Battle of the Sexes match?
The original Battle of the Sexes was played to promote social change, proving that women can compete and deserve the same respect as their male counterparts.
Watching Sabalenka and Kyrgios play in Dubai, you didn’t get the impression that was the goal this time around…
Speaking to BBC Sport before the event took place, King, the woman who won the 1973 Battle of the Sexes, seemed to agree.
“The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That’s it,” she said.
“Everything else, no. Ours was about social change, culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not.”
King had hoped to see Sabalenka pick up the win, and was undoubtedly disappointed to see the Aussie win in straight sets.
For now, the Battle of the Sexes is over, but there could well be a rematch on the horizon.
What Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios have said about a rematch
During the post-match press conference, Kyrgios said he would ‘happily do it again’, implying he’d be up for round two.
Sabalenka is also interested in a rematch, stating the following during an interview posted by ‘TennisOne App‘.
“I think I would definitely do it again, I love revenges, and I don’t like to leave it the way it is,” she said.
“For the next match, we’ll come up with a different format.
“Before the match, I didn’t realise that I had to adjust as well, it was a bit tricky for me.
“I would keep the full court for Nick [Kyrgios], but I would take two serves, I think that would even out our level a bit more.
“But as I always say, you’re not losing, you’re learning. I learned a lot about this game, about Nick as a player, as a person.
“I feel like I know how to play against him, and I would do it again, a rematch.”
Sabalenka and Kyrgios may meet again, but for now, they’re focused on their own seasons.
The Belarusian made a strong start in Brisbane, matching her fastest-ever WTA Tour win, beating Cristina Bucsa, 6-0, 6-1.
Kyrgios, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so successful, losing to Aleksandar Kovacevic on his return to singles action.
He did, however, win a doubles match alongside his friend and fellow Aussie, Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Losing his second-round match, Kyrgios will now wait to see if he is given a wild card for the 2026 Australian Open.
The tournament begins on Sunday, January 18.
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