🔗 Share this article Aryna Sabalenka Set to Take On Nick Kyrgios in Contemporary Cross-Gender Clash Exhibition Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios will compete at the 17,000-capacity Dubai arena. World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ event in the United Arab Emirates in December. The Belarusian Sabalenka, twenty-seven, and 30-year-old Aussie Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are set to compete at the Coca-Cola Arena on December 28. Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open champion. Kyrgios, who reached a career-high world number 13 in 2016, has participated in just five games this year since returning from a significant wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months. He has been absent on the ATP Tour since losing in the Miami Open second round in March. "I greatly admire Nick and his skill, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my best performance," Sabalenka said. Historical Context of Gender Showdowns Three official matches known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have occurred – most notably between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. US legend Riggs had beaten Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback a few months after. In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors overcame fellow multi-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then thirty-five, under special rules. "I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the women's game," Sabalenka added. "It's an honor to stand for women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match." Kyrgios, who made it to the 2022 Wimbledon final, said he will enjoy the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he shares the same agent. "When the world number one challenges you, you step up to the plate. I've got massive respect for Aryna; she's a force and a genuine winner," he remarked. "But I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to entertain. This is what I live for." Fun Spectacle or Damaging to Female Athletics? – Viewpoint Tennis fans have been split into opposing sides since talk of this exhibition began at the US Open in September. Some think it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will effectively draw the attention of a newer, younger audience in the age of social-media content. Another group feels it is a misguided venture – arranged by the Evolve management which the players both share – and creates an opportunity for female athletics to be undermined if Sabalenka is defeated by Kyrgios. The fact that Kyrgios admitted to attacking an former partner in 2023, then later had to distance himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a key factor why some critics believe this exhibition could provoke gender bias and anti-women sentiment. Sabalenka does not seem to be too worried the event will have a detrimental effect on women's sports. Speaking about the idea at the US Open, she said it was a "cool idea" and chuckled as she pledged to "kick Nick's ass". It is difficult, however, to see what she gains from the event – especially if she loses to a man who has not been in top form for a long time. For Kyrgios, he remains in the spotlight despite his ongoing break from the tour and constantly in the public eye which he has repeatedly demonstrated he enjoys. At this point, specifics about the format of the match are still scarce – although serving restrictions and potential adjustments to the court are believed to have been discussed.