Nick Kyrgios beat women's number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in a much-talked-about "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match on Sunday in Dubai. The event stirred up debate across the tennis world because of how it was set up, who played, and why it happened.
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| PHOTO: Nick Kyrgios |
The match was played with different rules from regular tennis, and it reminded people of the famous 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
However, some people thought it didn't have the same cultural or sporting meaning as the original match.
The rules were changed to even the playing field a bit.
To counter Kyrgios' physical edge, he was only allowed one serve per point, and Sabalenka's side of the court was reduced by nine percent. Even with these changes, Kyrgios still controlled key moments and won in straight sets.
Unlike the 1973 match, which was about fighting for equality and better treatment for women in tennis, Sunday's game was seen by many as just a commercial event.
It was organized by the same company that represents both players, which led to questions about its main purpose — was it just for ratings and money?
Kyrgios' participation also caused some controversy.
He has a history of admitting to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2021 and has been criticized for making sexist comments in the past. That raised questions about whether he was the right choice to represent men in a "Battle of the Sexes" match.
Even though Kyrgios is ranked 671st after playing only six high-level matches in the last three years, he showed signs of his past greatness against Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion.
After the match, Kyrgios praised Sabalenka for her strong performance and admitted he was nervous before the game.
He said it was a tough match and that she's a really good player. He also mentioned he'd like to play her again to show off her talent and what he still has left.
Kyrgios also shared that he felt extra pressure when Sabalenka walked out to "Eye of the Tiger" wearing a shiny jacket.
He said he was nervous, adding that not many people would have signed up for such a big event.
Sabalenka, who won the US Open recently and reached the Australian and French Open finals, said she enjoyed the challenge and would love to play again.
She said she fought well and that Kyrgios was struggling and getting tired. She also said she made many good shots, came to the net, and used drop shots. She enjoyed the whole experience and thinks a second match would be even better because she would know more about his style and how to beat him.
Fans had mixed reactions to the match.
Some liked the entertainment value, while others were unsure about its meaning and relevance in today's tennis world.
Despite all the controversy, the Kyrgios vs Sabalenka exhibition did one thing well — it brought a lot of attention to a unique and unusual tennis match that's still being talked about a long time after it ended.
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