Fans Slam Tennis ‘Battle of the Sexes’ After Kyrgios Defeats Sabalenka
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Nick Kyrgios beat Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win the 2025 version of the “Battle of the Sexes” in Dubai on Sunday, December 28, leading to laughter from fans on social media.
“Does Sabalenka realize how stupid this makes her look? Battle of the Sexes… girl, shame on you,” said one fan via X, alongside a screenshot of the show.
Kyrgios won the first two sets of the best-of-three contest, 6-3, 6-3.
Sunday’s “Battle of the Sexes” references the 1973 game of the same name between them Billie Jean King again Bobby Riggs. King won that match, marking a historic moment in the development of women’s tennis.
The 2025 “Battle of the Sexes” did not have the same weight, it had more entertainment than a historical, cultural and political event.
Despite the loss, Sabalenka is aiming to face Kyrgios again.
“He really enjoyed the show,” said Sabalenka after the game. “And I feel that the next time I play with him, I will know his tricks, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it will be a better game, for sure.”
Sabalenka’s performance earned her some kind words from Kyrgios, who looked tired after the match.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios
Getty Images“He is an amazing athlete, when he moves he plays the shots played by the top men,” he said on the court after the game. “I’m not surprised, I’ve seen him play and we’ve practiced a few times.
Kyrgios is currently ranked No. 671 in men’s singles and has just five matches left in 2025 as he recovers from injury. He finished second at Wimbledon in 2022.
“I was nervous,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of people would have put their hands up to be in this position. The score line was close, I was under the pump there. I was in shock, this is all the world was talking about for the last six months. I haven’t even been able to use my right hand for a year, 18 months ago. I’m happy to be out here again and playing, to be honest it’s very emotional.”
Sabalenka, on the other hand, is ranked No. 1 on the women’s side and is coming off the US Open.
“By putting myself in this situation, I am playing a young man, encouraging the next generation [of women] to be great, to challenge yourself, to be strong,” Sabalenka said at a press conference earlier this week.
On social media, fans were not very interested in this tournament.
US Open 2025 women’s singles winner Aryna Sabalenka paid tribute to her opponent, Amanda Anisimova, after defeating her in the final. The world No. 1 tennis star, 27, successfully defended the US Open title she won last year at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on Saturday, September. […]
“I’d like to know who decided this #battleofthesexes was a good idea,” said one user on X. “Who really looks good coming out of this? The 659th ranked player in men’s tennis just beat the women’s world number 1 comfortably in the final despite the rules in her favor. What a farce.”
“The big IL of the ‘men and women are the same’ crowd,” says a different X narrative. “Battle of the Sexes 2025. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka VS. World No. 671 Nick Kyrgios (injured). They even gave him a small court. Kyrgios wins in straight sets.”
The game used modified rules, limiting each player to one play per point (instead of two). Sabalenka’s court side was also nine percent smaller than Kyrgios’.
“I like to challenge myself and this is a big challenge, especially playing with Nick, an unpredictable and crazy guy,” Sabalenka told reporters before the game. “It’s good training for me and a good message to the girls out there — I hope they see how strong I am playing with a guy.”
