Kyrgios beats Sabalenka in Dubai exhibition

Nick Kyrgios won a made-for-TV “Battle of the Sexes” accumulation successful Dubai, beating women’s satellite No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 successful a lucifer framed much arsenic amusement than a connection astir sex equality.

The code was playful wrong the 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena. The brace laughed and joked, mixed successful under-arm serves, exaggerated grunts, and Sabalenka adjacent danced during a timeout. The summons prices underlined the show-business angle, with the astir costly seats listed astatine adjacent to $800.

Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, has played lone six tour-level matches successful the past 3 years due to the fact that of wrist and genu injuries. He appeared to throttle backmost astatine times, portion organizers added tweaks meant to equilibrium the contest: Sabalenka played connected a tribunal that was astir 10% smaller, and some players had lone 1 service per constituent alternatively of two.

Players transportation it arsenic fun, not a landmark

By the end, Kyrgios was drenched successful sweat earlier closing it retired connected his 3rd lucifer point. The 2 embraced astatine the nett and near smiling, leaning into the thought that the lawsuit was astir putting connected a spectacle.

Kyrgios said helium felt tense and had to “strap in.”

“I deliberation this is simply a large stepping-stone for the athletics of tennis,” the Australian said.

Sabalenka treated it arsenic mentation for 2026, with the Australian Open coming successful January, and said she wants different changeable astatine him.

“Really enjoyed the show,” she said, “and I consciousness similar adjacent clip I play him I'm going to cognize the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it's going to beryllium a amended match, for sure.”

The “Battle of the Sexes” statement echoes the celebrated 1973 lucifer successful Houston betwixt Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, a infinitesimal tied to King’s propulsion for a women’s circuit and adjacent pay. This time, determination was nary comparable taste weight. Sabalenka and Kyrgios, represented by the aforesaid agency, Evolve, promoted the lucifer arsenic a mode to entertain, scope younger fans, and make revenue.

Kyrgios’ engagement besides drew attraction due to the fact that of past controversy, including a 2021 lawsuit successful which helium pleaded blameworthy to shoving a erstwhile woman and avoided conviction, and earlier comments opposing adjacent wage successful tennis.