Sabalenka to battle Kyrgios in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match

World fig 1 Aryna Sabalenka volition look ex-Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios successful a antheral vs pistillate contention successful the UAE aboriginal this year.

Women’s satellite fig 1 Aryna Sabalenka volition instrumentality connected Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios successful a “Battle of the Sexes” accumulation lucifer successful Dubai connected December 28, organisers announced connected Tuesday.

Sabalenka, 27, volition look Kyrgios successful a modern rendition of tennis icon Billie Jean King’s 1973 showdown with chap American Bobby Riggs, which turned retired to beryllium a watershed infinitesimal for some tennis and the women’s movement.

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Played successful Houston’s Astrodome, the crippled was watched by immoderate 90 cardinal who tuned successful worldwide to spot King tempest to a straight-sets triumph that propelled the combat for equality successful sports.

Aged 55 astatine the time, Riggs had beaten Australia’s Margaret Court 4 months earlier earlier King, aged 29, exacted revenge.

In 1992, eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors, past aged 40, bushed 18-time large victor Martina Navratilova, past 35, nether modified rules.

“I person truthful overmuch respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women’s game,” four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said successful a statement.

“I’m arrogant to correspond women’s tennis and to beryllium portion of this modern instrumentality of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match.”

Sabalenka and Kyrgios person teased astir the lucifer connected galore occasions successful the past fewer months, with the contention initially slated to beryllium hosted successful Hong Kong.

World fig 652 Kyrgios, who has played conscionable 5 matches this twelvemonth since returning from a superior wrist wounded that kept him retired for 18 months, said successful September that helium could easy bushed Sabalenka.

When asked astir the Australian’s comments during her tally to the US Open title, the Belarusian said she was anxious to beryllium Kyrgios wrong.

“I person a batch of respect for Nick and his talent, but marque nary mistake, I’m acceptable to bring my A game,” Sabalenka said.

Kyrgios reached a career-high singles ranking of 13 successful 2016, and besides made it to the last of Wimbledon successful 2022.

The 30-year-old is simply a large gully connected and disconnected the tribunal astatine Grand Slams with his earthy endowment and unapologetic personality, which has besides landed him successful controversies successful the past.

The lucifer volition instrumentality spot astatine the Coca-Cola Arena successful Dubai.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has won 7 ATP Tour singles titles, but has seldom played successful caller years owed to changeless wounded and different off-court commitments [File: Lynne Sladky/AP]