Nick Kyrgios has defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis exhibition match.
The injury-wracked Australian maverick, currently ranked 671 in the world, beat the women’s world number one in straight sets 6-3 6-3.
Sunday’s match in Dubai had modified rules where each player was restricted to one serve only rather than two, and Sabalenka’s side of the court was reduced in size by 9% to compensate for the difference in speed between men and women.
After his victory, Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, said it was a “really tough match, she is a hell of a player and such a great champion”. He added: “She broke my serve numerous times, and I had to strap in.”
“I would love to play her again and showcase her talent and what I have left in the tank.”
There was laughing and joking between the players, some under-arm serves, and even dancing from Sabalenka during a timeout to entertain the crowd at the 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena. The players are represented by the same agency which arranged the exhibition match.
Before the Dubai event, Kyrgios had been limited to just six tour-level singles matches since 2023 because of wrist and knee injuries. His most recent match was in March this year.
The event had divided opinion in the tennis world.
The so-called “Battle of the Sexes” was a name borrowed from a 1973 match, when Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome. King won in straight sets and the match took place amid King’s efforts to start a female tour and get equal pay in tennis.
