Dubai Showdown: Sabalenka vs Kyrgios - A Modern 'Battle of the Sexes' Exhibition Match
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In a highly anticipated exhibition match, women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai on Sunday. The one-off contest is reminiscent of the iconic 1973 'Battle of the Sexes,' where Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, a moment that paved the way for conversations around gender equality in sports. The idea for the match began when Kyrgios, ranked No. 673 on the men's tour, challenged Sabalenka during the US Open in September. He claimed he could beat her without trying his best, even suggesting women cannot return professional men's serves. Sabalenka responded with confidence, saying she would 'kick his a**.' Evolve, a marketing agency co-founded by tennis great Naomi Osaka, organized the match, emphasizing the themes of respect, rivalry, and reimagining equality in sports. Stuart Duguid, Evolve co-founder, said the event is about pushing the boundaries of what equality in sports can look like. The 1973 'Battle of the Sexes' was a defining moment in the feminist movement, with King leading the charge for equal rights and pay in women's tennis. The match between King and Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion, was seen as a test of whether women's tennis was inferior to men's. The rules for the Sabalenka vs Kyrgios match have been modified. Both players will have one serve, and Sabalenka will play on a 9% smaller court. The match will be a best-of-three-sets contest, with a 10-point tiebreaker in the final set if needed. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:15 PM IST and will be live-streamed on the SonyLIV app.
