🔗 Share this article Aryna Sabalenka Ready to Challenge Kyrgios in Modern Gender Showdown Exhibition The top-ranked female player and the Australian star will meet at the 17,000-capacity Coca-Cola Arena. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is set to challenge Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition match in the UAE later this year. Belarus' Sabalenka, twenty-seven, and thirty-year-old Australian Kyrgios – currently placed 652nd in the world – are set to compete at the Coca-Cola Arena on 28 December. Four-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the reigning Wimbledon and US Open title-holder. Kyrgios, who peaked at 13th in 2016, has participated in just five games this year since returning from a serious wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months. He has been absent on the ATP Tour since exiting in the Miami Open early stage in March. "I greatly admire Nick and his skill, but rest assured, I'm prepared to bring my best performance," Sabalenka commented. Past Background of ‘Battle of the Sexes’ A trio of recognized contests known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have occurred – most notably between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. American veteran Riggs had beaten Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback a few months after. In 1992, a 40-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow multi-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under hybrid rules. "I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the female tennis," Sabalenka added. "I'm proud to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the legendary ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match." Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final, expressed he will enjoy the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he shares the same agent. "When the world number one challenges you, you step up to the plate. I've got great admiration for Aryna; she's a powerhouse and a true champion," he remarked. "However I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to thrill the crowd. This is what I thrive on." Harmless Entertainment or Damaging to Women's Sport? – Analysis Tennis fans have been divided into two camps since rumblings of this exhibition started at the US Open in September. Certain individuals believe it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will effectively draw the eyeballs of a younger demographic in the age of social-media content. Another group feels it is a ill-advised project – organized by the Evolve management which the players both share – and sets up an opportunity for women's sport to be belittled if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios. The fact that Kyrgios admitted to attacking an ex-girlfriend in 2023, then later had to distance himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a key factor why some critics believe this exhibition could provoke gender bias and anti-women sentiment. Sabalenka does not seem to be too worried the event will have a negative impact on female athletics. Speaking about the possibility at the US Open, she said it was a "cool idea" and laughed as she vowed to "kick Nick's ass". It is difficult, however, to see what she benefits from the event – especially if she loses to a man who has not been fit for a considerable period. For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his ongoing break from the tour and firmly in the spotlight which he has consistently shown he enjoys. At this point, details about the format of the match are still limited – although serving restrictions and potential adjustments to the court are believed to have been discussed.