World number two Iga Swiatek has delivered a firm verdict on the recent high-profile exhibition match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, bluntly stating she avoids such spectacles and believes women's tennis is strong enough to stand on its own without comparisons to the men's game.
Swiatek's Stance: Entertainment, Not Social Change
The Polish tennis star, a six-time Grand Slam champion, addressed the so-called 'Battle of the Sexes' clash that took place in Dubai last Sunday. Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in a match that drew significant global attention. However, Swiatek made it clear she saw little value in the event beyond pure entertainment.
"I haven't watched [Sabalenka v Kyrgios] because I don't watch stuff like that," Swiatek said on Saturday. "I think for sure it attracted a lot of attention. It was entertainment, but I wouldn't say that had anything to do with social change or any important topics."
She was particularly keen to distance the modern exhibition from the historic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, which carried profound significance for gender equality in sports. Swiatek argued that the only similarity was in the name, not the substance.
Women's Tennis Doesn't Need Comparisons
At the heart of Swiatek's comments was a strong belief in the independent strength and appeal of the women's tour. She emphasised that the current era of women's tennis is rich with talent and compelling narratives that require no external validation through competition with male players.
"I feel like women's tennis stands on its own right now," the 25-year-old asserted. "We have so many great athletes and great stories to present; we don't necessarily need to compare to men's tennis. Honestly, there doesn't need to be any competition."
Following her loss, Sabalenka expressed interest in a rematch with Kyrgios, potentially under a different format. Swiatek's perspective, however, suggests a preference for focusing on the official tour and its own merits.
United Cup Praised for Unifying Tennis
While critical of the 'Battle of the Sexes' concept, Swiatek highlighted the positive impact of integrated team events like the United Cup, which began in Perth on Friday. She believes such tournaments successfully bring the tennis community together in a more meaningful way.
"Events like this one, the United Cup, brings tennis together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement," she said.
She pointed out that these events allow singles players, who rarely get the opportunity, to compete in mixed doubles, creating unique and engaging matchups for fans. "Seeing also singles players that usually don't have space to play mixed doubles together, playing these kind of matches, I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and better," Swiatek concluded, drawing a clear distinction between what she views as cynical exhibition and genuine, sport-unifying competition.
