TENNIS: Sabalenka to take on Kyrgios in 'Battle of the Sexes' match

Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios in a 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match in Dubai on December 28, organizers announced Tuesday.

The match is a modern take on tennis icon Billie Jean King's legendary 1973 showdown with fellow American Bobby Riggs, a landmark moment for both tennis and the women's movement.

Played at Houston's Astrodome, the original match drew an estimated 90 million viewers worldwide, with King defeating Riggs in straight sets—a victory that helped propel the fight for equality in sports. At the time, Riggs was 55 years old and had beaten Australia's Margaret Court four months earlier, while King, 29, delivered a historic comeback.

In 1992, a similar event saw eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors, then 40, defeat 18-time major winner Martina Navratilova, 35, under modified rules.

"I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women's game," four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said in a statement. "I'm proud to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take on the iconic Battle of the Sexes match."

Sabalenka and Kyrgios have teased the exhibition for months, with the contest originally scheduled to take place in Hong Kong.

Kyrgios, ranked 652nd in the world, has played just five matches this year after returning from a serious wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months. In September, he confidently claimed he could easily beat Sabalenka.

When asked about Kyrgios’ remarks during her run to the U.S. Open title, Sabalenka said she is ready to prove him wrong. "I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my A-game," she said.

Kyrgios reached a career-high singles ranking of 13 in 2016 and made it to the Wimbledon final in 2022. The 30-year-old remains a major draw both on and off the court thanks to his natural talent and unapologetic personality, which has also stirred controversy at times.

The match will be held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. -Aadi Nair/Reuters