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Dubai, 28 December 2025 - World number one Aryna Sabalenka and former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios will face off in a much-discussed exhibition match at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena this afternoon, sparking debate over its purpose and potential impact on women's tennis.
Event format and rules aim to level the playing field
The match, billed as a modern take on the historic "Battle of the Sexes," will follow a best-of-three-sets format, with a 10-point tie-breaker deciding a potential third set. Organisers have introduced rule adjustments to mitigate physiological differences between male and female players. Sabalenka's side of the court will be 9% smaller, reflecting data that women players move approximately 9% slower on average. Additionally, each player will be limited to a single serve per point, a change Kyrgios described as a significant equaliser.
"You're taking my strength completely out of it," Kyrgios told BBC Sport. "The men's game is heavily reliant on first-serve percentage. If you take that away, the game becomes more of a baseline grind, and I think that slightly goes in her favour."
Sabalenka confident despite Kyrgios' firepower
Sabalenka, who claimed four titles in 2025-including the US Open-and reached five other finals, enters the match as one of the most dominant servers on the women's tour. The 27-year-old Belarusian ranks in the top five for service games won this season and possesses a formidable baseline game, though she has occasionally struggled with consistency. Over the past year, she has worked to diversify her play, incorporating more drop shots and net approaches.
"I feel I will be more prepared than this guy," Sabalenka said in a recent interview. She dismissed concerns that the match could undermine women's tennis, framing it as an opportunity to showcase the sport's appeal. "This event is only going to help bring women's tennis to a higher level," she added.
Kyrgios shrugs off controversy and fitness doubts
Kyrgios, whose career has been marked by both brilliance and controversy, has faced criticism for his selection as Sabalenka's opponent. The Australian, who pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2021, has also been accused of making misogynistic remarks in the past. He dismissed concerns about the event's potential to fuel criticism of women's sport, stating he had not given the matter "one thought."
"I'm never worried. I know how I've responded with things in my life," Kyrgios said. "This is all a bonus. I've lost tennis matches before, so it's not really a big deal."
Fitness has been a persistent question for the 30-year-old, who missed most of 2023 and all of 2024 due to a wrist injury that一度 threatened his career. After returning at the Australian Open in January, he has not played an ATP Tour singles match since March, citing a knee injury. Kyrgios acknowledged the physical toll of professional tennis but expressed optimism about his current condition. "Now I'm in my 30s, I have to start looking after my body a little better," he said.
Debate over event's purpose and legacy
The match has divided opinion, with some viewing it as a harmless spectacle that could attract younger audiences in the social media era. Others argue it risks trivialising women's tennis, particularly if Sabalenka loses. Billie Jean King, whose 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs became a landmark moment for gender equality, drew a clear distinction between the two events.
"Ours was about social change; culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not."
Billie Jean King, former world number one
Kyrgios and Sabalenka have framed the event as an opportunity to blend sport and entertainment, emphasising its potential to reach new fans. "Sport and entertainment is the same thing-people come to watch sport for the unknown," Kyrgios said. "Whether it's good or bad, they want to remember something they are going to see in everyday life."
The Coca-Cola Arena, which seats 17,000, is expected to sell out, with tickets ranging from £100 for upper-tier seats to over £600 for courtside access.
What to expect
The match will be broadcast live on BBC One from 15:45 GMT. While the outcome remains uncertain, both players have emphasised the exhibition's lighthearted nature. "We're there to have fun and bring great tennis," Sabalenka said. "Whoever wins, wins."
