The iconic 1973 'Battle of the Sexes' between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was a landmark moment that fought for the relevance and equality of women's tennis. Fast forward to 2025, and a modern rendition of the concept, featuring World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, has done the opposite, veering into a circus act that critics say damaged the sport's credibility.
A Mismatched Contest Under Bizarre Rules
In Dubai, before an audience including football legends like Ronaldo and Kaka, World No. 671 Nick Kyrgios secured a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 victory over four-time major champion Aryna Sabalenka. Kyrgios, who has won just one competitive match since late 2022, cantered to victory despite appearing exhausted. The contest was skewed by peculiar rules designed to level the playing field, which ultimately made it a farce.
Sabalenka's side of the court was made 9% smaller (3.5 feet shorter), forcing her to stand well behind the baseline to serve. Additionally, both players were restricted to just one serve per point. In practice, these adjustments looked bizarre and handicapped Sabalenka's powerful game, leading to a rising count of unforced errors.
Spectacle Over Sport: A WWE-Style Entertainment
The event leaned heavily into entertainment over genuine competition. Sabalenka entered to "Eye of the Tiger," wearing a sparkling silver jacket reminiscent of a WWE superstar. During the match, she smiled, laughed, and even danced the Macarena during a timeout. While entertaining for a casual viewer, it undermined the athletic contest. On the tennis front, Sabalenka struggled against Kyrgios's unconventional shot-making, including nifty kick serves and spins, failing to build any sustained momentum.
Post-match, both players attempted to put a positive spin. "It was a really tough match," Kyrgios claimed. "She is a hell of a competitor. It could have gone either way." Sabalenka, despite the criticism, insisted she enjoyed the show and wanted a rematch, stating she now understood his tactics.
Backlash and a Step Back for Women's Tennis
The reaction from the tennis community and fans was overwhelmingly negative. Unlike Billie Jean King's win, which propelled the fight for equal pay and led to the formation of the WTA, this exhibition was seen as a setback. Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski called it "pointless," unsure if it helped tennis.
The match became fodder for sexists and misogynists online, with many using the result to belittle women's tennis, ignoring the contrived rules. One social media user called it a "massacre," while another criticized the "heavily disadvantaged court" for Sabalenka.
This is particularly damaging after a stellar 2025 for women's tennis, where Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and others created compelling narratives and competitive glory. This attention-seeking, money-grabbing act, orchestrated by their shared management agency Evolve, threatened to tarnish that sheen. Ultimately, the 2025 Battle of the Sexes is viewed as an own goal—a poorly conceived spectacle that provided ammunition to detractors rather than celebrating the sport's progress.
