DUBAI — Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios defeated Belarusian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in an exhibition match held on December 28, 2025, that was billed as a modern edition of the historic “Battle of the Sexes.” The contest took place at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and finished with Kyrgios winning 6-3, 6-3 under modified conditions. 

The event revived the “Battle of the Sexes” label, originally associated with the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, but was generally framed as an entertainment exhibition rather than a competitive test with significant sporting consequences. The match featured special rules, including a one-serve limit per point and a smaller court on Sabalenka’s side, adjustments aimed at balancing physical differences between the competitors. 

Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist who has battled injuries in recent seasons and played limited official matches in 2025, managed to overcome the world’s top women’s player in straight sets. Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam singles finalist and leading figure in women’s tennis, broke Kyrgios’s serve at times but could not sustain momentum. 

Responses to the exhibition were mixed among tennis followers and commentators. Some saw the match as an engaging spectacle that showcased both players’ skills and offered a light-hearted end-of-season event, while others questioned its purpose. Critics argued that staging a men’s-versus-women’s match, even with adjusted rules, did not resemble the original historic clash’s cultural impact and could risk trivialising the progress made in women’s sport. 

Despite the debate, both Kyrgios and Sabalenka described the experience positively, with Sabalenka indicating interest in a future rematch. The contest drew a full arena and attracted global media attention, highlighting ongoing interest in exhibitions that revisit historic moments from tennis history. 

Sources: BBC Sport, CNN, Reuters, The Times India