World number one Aryna Sabalenka has declared her upcoming 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match against Australia's Nick Kyrgios as a thrilling and unpredictable challenge. The unique encounter is scheduled for Sunday at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, featuring a set of modified rules designed to level the playing field.
Sabalenka Embraces the Unknown Challenge
The Belarusian star, a four-time Grand Slam champion, expressed her excitement about stepping into the unknown. The 27-year-old admitted she loves to challenge herself and sees the match as a significant test, especially against an opponent known for his volatile and unorthodox style.
"This event is really unpredictable. I don't know what to expect, and that's what I love because this is the feeling that you chase when you play sport," Sabalenka stated during a press conference at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai on Saturday, December 27, 2025. She added, "I love to challenge myself, and this is a huge challenge, especially playing against Nick, a guy who is unpredictable and crazy."
Sabalenka also highlighted the broader message of the exhibition, viewing it as great training and an inspiration. "It's a great message to the girls out there – I hope they will see how strong and tough I am by playing against a guy," she said. When directly asked about the potential winner, her response was confident and succinct: "Me."
Modified Rules for a Unique Contest
The match will not follow standard tennis regulations. Organisers have introduced specific modifications to create a more balanced and intriguing contest. The most notable change is that both players will be permitted only one serve per point, removing the safety net of a second serve.
Further adjustments will be made to the court dimensions for Sabalenka. Her side of the court will be reduced by nine percent compared to the standard size, potentially compensating for the physical differences. The format will be a best-of-three sets match, with a 10-point tiebreaker used to decide the winner if the score is level after the first two sets.
No Comparison to 1973, Says Billie Jean King
While the event borrows the iconic 'Battle of the Sexes' moniker, tennis legend Billie Jean King, who famously defeated Bobby Riggs in 1973, was quick to distinguish the two occasions. King emphasised that her historic match carried profound social and political weight that this modern exhibition does not.
"The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That's it. Everything else, no," King told the BBC. "Ours was about social change, culturally, where we were in 1973. Mine was really political. I knew I had to beat him for societal change. I had a lot of reasons to win."
Despite the different contexts, the exhibition in Dubai promises to be a spectacular entertainment event, pitting the power and consistency of the current women's world number one against the mercurial talent and showmanship of Kyrgios under a novel set of rules.
