Nick Kyrgios is building up to a one-of-a-kind match against WTA world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Kyrgios was forced to miss the US Open this year, but still has his sights set on returning to the tennis court.
This includes a potential recreation of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match, with Kyrgios playing Sabalenka.
With that match potentially approaching, Kyrgios has now been asked how seriously he is actually taking it.
Nick Kyrgios reveals if he is actually going to try when playing Aryna Sabalenka
Kyrgios has not played an ATP singles match since March, when he lost in the second round of the Miami Open.
Despite this, a former WTA number one has backed Kyrgios to easily beat Sabalenka, something he appears to believe himself.
When speaking to fellow ATP player Alexander Bublik for his new podcast ‘Tea with Bublik’, Kyrgios suggested that he would not have to put in full effort to beat Sabalenka.
However, as Bublik continued to question him about it, Kyrgios appeared to change his answer as he admitted he felt a sense of responsibility to represent the ATP Tour.
Kyrgios: Yeah, look obviously we’re in the same agency, me and Sabalenka, she’s awesome by the way. Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character. But, I’m super excited for that and I think she’s the type of player, like she genuinely thinks she’s going to win.
Bublik: But will you try or will you be just playing around and then at the end she will win and be like…because if we talk about you know a lot of politics here, it’s more about the women’s tennis, equal prize money and all that. And if she beats you…
Kyrgios: She’s not going to beat me brother.
Bublik: So, you’re going to try…because I mean you can always double fault.
Kyrgios: You really think I have to try 100%?
Bublik: I think you can just go there and have a nice night out before that and say okay I don’t care.
Kyrgios: I’m going to try.
Bublik: So my question was will you try to be there to play?
Kyrgios: Definitely, because I’m representing I guess you, the men’s side. Like I’m, I would say…
Bublik: I would not pick you to represent us against her.
Kyrgios: Seriously? Like our serves, like women can’t return and then we can just like chip and like drop shot. I would choose you. See, he’s very mean to me bro. I would choose you 100%, you can drop shot, they would have no idea. Thanks for the confidence bro.
When will the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka take place?
So far the talk around this match between Kyrgios and Sabalenka has only been speculation, but it appears that there are now official plans in place to make it happen.
When queried about this, Kyrgios revealed that they are trying to make it happen in the near future.
Kyrgios said, “It’ll be around a couple months in Hong Kong, we’re trying to do it.”
There is a WTA tournament that takes place in Hong Kong between October 27 and November 2, as well as an ATP event that is held there at the start of the 2026 season.
Kyrgios also revealed that Sabalenka’s side of the court will be smaller, and both players will both only have one serve to add to the exhibition feel of the match.
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