🔗 Share this article Aryna Sabalenka Ready to Face Kyrgios in Contemporary Gender Showdown Exhibition The top-ranked female player and the Australian star will meet at the 17,000-capacity Dubai arena. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will take on Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates in December. Belarus' Sabalenka, 27, and thirty-year-old Aussie Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are scheduled to play each other at the Coca-Cola Arena on December 28. Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open title-holder. Kyrgios, who reached a career-high world number 13 in 2016, has participated in just five games this year since recovering 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 second round in March. "I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my A-game," Sabalenka commented. Past Background of ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Three official matches labeled as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have taken place – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. American veteran Riggs had defeated Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback four months later. In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors overcame fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under special rules. "I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the female tennis," Sabalenka added. "I'm proud to stand for 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, said he will relish 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 force and a genuine winner," he remarked. "However I've never shied away 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 Female Athletics? – Viewpoint Followers of the sport have been divided into opposing sides since rumblings of this exhibition started at the US Open in September. Certain individuals believe it is a fun diversion which will successfully attract the attention of a younger demographic in the age of digital media. Another group feels it is a ill-advised project – arranged by the Evolve agency which the players both share – and sets up an opportunity for women's sport to be belittled if Sabalenka is defeated by Kyrgios. The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2023, then later had to separate himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a big reason why some critics believe this exhibition could unnecessarily fuel sexism and misogyny. Sabalenka does not seem to be overly concerned the event will have a negative impact on women's sports. Speaking about the possibility at the US Open, she said it was a "interesting concept" and laughed as she vowed to "kick Nick's ass". It is difficult, however, to see what she gains from the event – particularly if she is defeated to a man who has not been in top form for a considerable period. For Kyrgios, he remains in the spotlight despite his ongoing break from the tour and constantly in the public eye which he has consistently shown he loves to be in. At this stage, details about the structure of the match are still scarce – although rules on serves and potential court modifications are believed to have been considered.