A recent tennis match took place. What made this match unique was that it was a battle of the sexes. It was between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka. It took place in Dubai on the 28th of December. Despite the novel event taking place, it has drawn staunch criticism.
Nick Kyrgios defeated women's world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 6-3 in a controversial "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition. Despite modified rules to level the playing field, Kyrgios' post-match claims—that the event was the most talked-about in sport recently and that he's among a rare few to beat the Big Four—sparked widespread backlash and debate over its impact on women's tennis.
The match featured modified rules to bridge physical differences: players were limited to one serve per point and Sabalenka's side of the court was reduced by 9% in size. Despite these adjustments, Kyrgios appeared to hold back at times but secured a straightforward win, with entertaining moments including under-arm serves from Kyrgios and Sabalenka dancing during a timeout.
The event drew sharp criticism for lacking the social significance of Billie Jean King's 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs, which advanced gender equality in tennis. King herself stated the only similarity is "one is a boy and one is a girl," emphasising her match was about societal change.
Former doubles world No. 1, Rennae Stubbs, called it a "money grab" for the players and their shared management agency, adding: "No top woman can compete with a good male player—it's not physically possible." She warned it could fuel misogynistic narratives undermining women's tennis.
In his post-match press conference, Kyrgios defended the event vigorously, claiming it was a positive showcase for the sport.
He boasted: "Let me just remind you that I’m one of 16 people that have ever beaten the 'Big Four'—Andy Murray; Novak Djokovic; Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have all lost to me." (Sources vary on the exact number, with some listing around 21 players who defeated all four). Kyrgios argued Sabalenka "proved she can compete against someone that’s beaten the greatest of all time," insisting the match required effort from him and dismissed negativity.
Most controversially, he declared it, "the most talked-about event probably in sport in the last six months" due to social media buzz—a claim met with widespread mockery online, especially coming just days after Jake Paul's fight with Anthony Joshua on Netflix drew massive global viewership.
Social media users reacted swiftly: "No one talked about it outside of tennis circles," one wrote. Others noted they only learned of the match from Kyrgios' clip, with comments like: "Most talked about in the last 6 months? I’m literally only hearing about it now."
The modified court also raised eyebrows, highlighting efforts to "level" the playing field.
Sabalenka defended her participation, saying: "I honestly don’t understand how people were able to find something negative… It brought more eyes on tennis" and attracted attention from non-tennis figures. She viewed it as fun preparation for the season and expressed interest in a rematch.
Kyrgios and Sabalenka posed with trophies post-match, alongside Sabalenka's goddaughter.
While both players saw the exhibition as promotional for tennis, critics argued it trivialised women's achievements and risked reinforcing gender stereotypes, especially given Kyrgios' comfortable win despite the handicaps. The debate underscores ongoing tensions around gender, entertainment and equality in the sport.
Although Sabalenka hit a few good shots, a large number of women found her participation in the cross-gender tennis match to be insulting. Not only did she lose, she had a major advantage in the loss.
Broadcaster, Katherine Whittaker, on the Tennis Podcast, didn’t pull any punches. She straight-up accused Kyrgios of choosing to, "stand for and represent misogyny." It’s a bold claim, but is it that far-fetched? This is, after all, the same guy who admitted to assaulting a former girlfriend. The charges were dismissed, but the admission hangs in the air like a poorly executed lob.
Whittaker argues this so-called "Battle of the Sexes” isn’t a celebration of tennis but a “dog whistle publicity stunt.” She calls it a “symbol of the populist Trumpian age of do-whistles and division and stupidity.” Ouch. She has a point.
The event feels engineered to create outrage, to get people talking, and to feed the narrative that Kyrgios so clearly thrives on: him against the world, the misunderstood bad boy who just "tells it like it is." He’s not just playing for a paycheck in Dubai; he’s fighting to validate his entire brand, which seems to be built on the idea that women’s sports are inherently lesser.
This isn’t the 1973 classic where Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs and struck a major blow for gender equality. This is a 2025 cash grab, a "crass commercial venture," as Whittaker rightly calls it. It’s a vehicle for Kyrgios’s ego, a way to keep his name in the headlines without having to, you know, consistently win professional tennis tournaments.
Although I didn't watch the match, it's sounds ridiculous. I have to agree with all the criticism. I'm with one of the social media users as well, I only learnt about this match yesterday. It seems to me that there was zero social media activity for it.
I'm all for feminism and equal rights for women but I feel this didn't help matters. It definitely sounds like a cash grab opportunity and a promotion for the sport. This match sounds like a public image check up.
It's quite clear that it didn't achieve it main objective.