'Not at any risk': Aryna Sabalenka brushes off criticism surrounding Battle of the Sexes clash with Nick Kyrgios
Updated . First published
Over half a century ago, the world was captivated as Billie Jean King defeated former champion Bobby Riggs in an era-defining "Battle of the Sexes" showdown in 1973.
Now, the concept's history is set for a new chapter as Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios prepares to go head-to-head with Belarusian powerhouse and women's world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in an exhibition match in Dubai later this month.
However, while promoting the inter-gender match under the same "Battle of the Sexes" banner, discussions have cast doubt on the event's true motives.
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The historic 1973 match became a rallying point for social progress and empowerment, while the latest instalment between Kyrgios and Sabalenka has been touted as little more than a publicity stunt for ticket sales and viewership.
Aryna Sabalenka competes against Nick Kyrgios in a mixed doubles match as part of the Garden Cup tournament. Adam Hunger via Getty Images
Critics of the event are arguing that, given the progress made in women's tennis, the match now risks sensationalising gender differences.
According to King, the new "Battle of the Sexes" match lacks the same context and gravity, making it "not the same" as her landmark meeting with Riggs.
Asked if she saw any similarities between the matches, King acknowledged the resemblance but discredited the match as a continuation of the social movement that her original match represented.
"The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That's it," she told BBC Sport earlier this month.
"Everything else, no. Ours was about social change, culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not.
"I hope it's a great match — I want Sabalenka, obviously, to win — but it's just not the same."
Tennis legend Billie Jean King is seen at the Australian Open. Robert Prange via Getty Images
There are also concerns that, regardless of the result for Sabalenka, the outcome could be used to belittle women's tennis.
For either player, numerous excuses could be used to explain the outcome.
Should Sabalenka prevail, the achievement will be viewed in light of her opponent's current situation: a man ranked in the 600s whose career has been shrouded in controversy and seriously hampered by injuries in recent years.
A potential Sabalenka victory might also be scrutinised because of modifications implemented to manufacture fairness, such as a smaller court area for the four-time grand slam champion.
"I played Bobby three out of five sets, I played on a court and didn't change anything," King said.
"I said, 'Look, I play straight up, or else I'm not going to play'. And Bobby loved it."
With this in mind, many sceptics have questioned precisely what both players stand to gain from the match.
Aryna Sabalenka poses with the champion's trophy after defeating Amanda Anisimova in the US Open women's singles final. Getty
Further complicating the event, while promoting the contest, Sabalenka has weighed in on the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, stating that athletes who are assigned male at birth should not be permitted to compete against biological women.
Asked about the issue by Piers Morgan earlier this month, Sabalenka expressed her opposition to transgender athletes in women's sports, citing biological advantages.
"That's a tricky question," she told Piers Morgan Uncensored.
"I have nothing against them. But I feel like they still got a huge advantage over the women, and I think it's not fair on women to face basically biological men.
"It's not fair. The woman has been working her whole life to reach her limit, and then she has to face a man who is biologically much stronger, so for me, I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport."
Sharing Sabalenka's opinion, Kyrgios added: "I think she hit the nail on the head."
Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka appear on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Piers Morgan Uncensored
Supporters of the "Battle of the Sexes" match, including Sabalenka, view the contest as a high-profile entertainment product designed to draw global attention to the sport.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Sabalenka disagreed that the event posed a damaging risk to women's tennis or herself as the game's top player.
"I am not putting myself at any risk," she said.
"We're there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins. It's so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it's not about that.
"This event is only going to help bring women's tennis to a higher level."
Nick Kyrgios is spotted watching the NBL Blitz match between the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the New Zealand Breakers. Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images
What is the Battle of the Sexes match?
Kyrgios and Sabalenka will face off in a best-of-three sets "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition tennis match in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
The name itself is a nod to the iconic and historically significant 1973 "Battle of the Sexes", where King defeated Riggs in three sets, which became a landmark moment for women's equality in sports.
The upcoming match is meant to be a modern, high-profile take that revives the famous concept, blending serious tennis with spectacle and playful rivalry.
When and where will the Battle of the Sexes match be played?
The match is scheduled to be played on Monday, December 29 (AEDT).
It will be held at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena.
Nick Kyrgios in action during the 2022 World Tennis League at the Coca-Cola Arena. Getty
What time is the Battle of the Sexes tennis match?
The match is scheduled to begin at 3am AEDT on Monday, December 29.
Where can I watch Battle of the Sexes in Australia?
The match will be broadcast live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
Why are Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka playing each other?
Pitting a top-ranked female player and a 2022 men's Wimbledon finalist against each other, the revival of the man-versus-woman tennis spectacle is fuelled by both players' competitive nature and a bit of good-natured banter. However, critics have dismissed the event as purely transactional.
Kyrgios previously said that when a "world No.1 challenges you, you answer the call".
His female rival has already ramped up the trash talk, confidently declaring she plans to "kick his arse" in the looming battle.
The reason for the match has been criticised as it stands to have no positive effect on women's tennis.
The pair are managed by the same agency, Evolve, that conceived the exhibition match.
What are the rules for Battle of the Sexes?
The match is set to be played under non-traditional rules designed to make it more competitive.
Key modifications include both players being restricted to one serve, while Sabalenka's side of the court will be smaller, reduced by nine per cent.
To justify the smaller court area, Evolve cited data that established a clear difference, noting that female players' average movement speeds are about nine per cent slower than those of men.
The exhibition will follow a best-of-three sets format, with the deciding set settled by a 10-point tie-breaker if required.
What was the original Battle of the Sexes?
The historic tennis match was played between King, one of the world's leading female tennis players, and former Wimbledon and US Open singles champion Riggs.
On September 20, 1973, King beat Riggs in the best-of-five sets match, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 at the Houston Astrodome.
Billie Jean King, ready to defend women's rights and the women's tour against Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "battle of the sexes". AP
It was far more than just a tennis match; it was a major cultural and social spectacle that became a landmark moment for the women's rights movement and gender equality in sports.
An estimated 90 million people worldwide tuned in to watch the match.
Riggs had previously defeated the then top-ranked female player at the time, Margaret Court, earlier that year.
Emboldened, the 55-year-old retired player then targeted King, who felt immense pressure to win to validate the women's professional tour and the broader women's rights movement.
"I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match," King said.
The matches occurred in the same year that King founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), just three years after The Original 9 famously broke away from the sport's establishment.
How many Battle of the Sexes tennis matches have there been?
The number of matches that have been formally marketed and widely recognised as the "Battle of the Sexes" for their high profile and cultural impact is generally counted as three.
These matches included Riggs v Margaret Court on May 13, 1973, Riggs v King on September 20, 1973 and Jimmy Connors v Martina Navratilova on September 25, 1992.
Billie Jean King on her way to defeating Bobby Riggs in their $100,000 winner-take-all match at the Astrodome. Bettmann Archive
Karsten Braasch also took on both Williams sisters back-to-back in 1998.
What is the prize money for the Battle of the Sexes?
The specific prize money structure for the upcoming "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match has not been publicly disclosed.
The pair's shared agent, Stuart Duguid, has previously said that they are "not discussing the economics" of the match, adding that "the battle is for pride, curated by progressive innovation".
However, both Sabalenka and Kyrgios will likely receive guaranteed appearance fees just for showing up or a share of revenue, regardless of the match result.
Duguid also confirmed that the players will "do fine" financially for their participation in the match.
