Nick Kyrgios will take on Aryna Sabalenka in a Battle of the Sexes exhibition in Dubai, and the tennis world is already polarised about what that actually means.
The match is scheduled as a one-off event aimed at entertainment but it has stirred debate about respect between the men’s and women’s tours, with fans, pundits and players all weighing in on the idea.
Kyrgios Signs Up For Dubai Showdown
“I think my chances are really high.”
Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios amplified the circus by admitting some nerves while sticking to bravado, saying “It’s going to be fun, but also I am a bit nervous. I like doing things that are outside the box,” and making clear he enjoys provocation.
That combination of showman and serious player is the point of tension here, because the 1973 Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs showdown still casts a long shadow over any cross-sex match-up in tennis history.
Critics worry the Dubai fixture will be dismissed as a stunt that undermines women’s tennis, while supporters say it provides a mass-audience platform to spotlight female stars and spark fresh conversations at the season’s end.
Where The Tours And Headlines Collide
Unlike the Riggs spectacle, Kyrgios remains an active player on the men’s circuit, even if injuries limited his on-court time this year; he has played only five professional matches in 2025, a fact that changes the calculus for his decision.
Earlier comments from Kyrgios added fuel to the debate, when he suggested women cannot return men’s serves and claimed he would beat Sabalenka ‘without having to try 100 per cent’, a line that rekindled questions about motive and message.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, did not flinch from the physical comparison and used the phrase ‘biologically stronger’ when discussing differences between male and female players, while stressing the match’s role in promoting women’s tennis.
The world No.1 status Sabalenka brings guarantees legitimacy and attention, and many observers believe the onus will be on Kyrgios to deliver results as well as spectacle when the ball is finally struck.
Broadcasts, Bites And What To Expect
For Australian viewers the Dubai exhibition will be shown live and exclusively on Stan Sport and it is set for December 28, so expect a mix of competitive hitting and promotional theatre rather than a standard tour match.
Kyrgios framed the event as an opportunity to “increase respect” between the men’s and women’s professional tours, suggesting the contest could be a bridge rather than a provocation depending on how seriously both camps treat it.
He also shrugged at the blowback, noting his colourful career with a line that sounded almost weary: “I’ve been in a lot of controversies in my whole career and this is another thing I get to experience,” which is part showmanship, part acceptance.
The result in Dubai will matter to few ranking points but plenty to public perception, and it may well reveal whether today’s top tour players would attempt a similar crossover or keep the sexes on separate competitive stages.
Expect fireworks, punditry and social-media rows, but also the occasional unexpectedly high-quality tennis — because with two top-class athletes on court anything less would be a disappointment to fans who care most about the sport.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
