Aryna Sabalenka Calls Out Media Channels for Taking the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Match with Nick Kyrgios Out of Context
Aryna Sabalenka beat Cristina Bucsa in her opening match at the Brisbane International.
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Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/TNT Sports)
Aryna Sabalenka has said she’s sad that the media got the idea behind the Battle of the Sexes exhibition against Nick Kyrgios wrong. The controversial match has been lauded for bringing more attention to the sport, but critics believe it didn’t add any value, as it never had any relevance in modern tennis.
The much-publicized exhibition match ended in defeat for Sabalenka as she fell to Kyrgios 3-6, 3-6 in Dubai late last month. The Women’s World No.1 was expected to be at the Australian star, who had at that time not played a professional tennis singles match for over six months and was just returning from a wrist injury.
However, after the loss, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek criticized the match a few days ago. The Polish star said it had nothing to do with social change and no comparison with the famous Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and former World No.1 Bobby Riggs in 1973.
Also, former players, including Greg Rusedski, voiced their opinion about the match, saying it lacked merit and was just centered on entertainment and financial benefits. Nonetheless, Kyrgios and Sabalenka have defended the tie on several occasions, stressing that it was needed to bring more excitement to the already rigid sport.
After Sabalenka played her opening match at the Brisbane International, she was asked again about the Battle of the Sexes exhibition. The World No.1 pointed out that the media failed to get the main idea behind the exhibition clash, but stressed that she has moved on from the defeat and is now focused on the 2026 season:
I mean, guys, what I’m sad about is that some people got it wrong, the whole idea of that event. I don’t care. You know, I feel like there is always going to be people who don’t like you, don’t respect you, don’t support you. But there is so many people who support me who really cheer me on and who find inspiration in me, and I’m focusing on that part. I’m not even thinking about that exhibition. It was fun. It was a great challenge. I think we brought so many eyes on tennis.
Sabalenka is seeking to defend the Brisbane International, which is her first tournament of the season. The Belarusian star is aiming to kick off the year with the right momentum ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on January 18. She has won the Australian Open twice in her career and finished as a runner-up in the last edition.
Aryna Sabalenka says the Battle of the Sexes match gave her the much-needed preparation for the season
Aryna Sabalenka needed just 48 minutes to demolish Cristina Bucsa in the second round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday (January 6). The World No. 1 played a perfect game, racing through the first set in just 22 minutes before taking only 28 minutes to claim the second, winning the match 6-0, 6-1.
During the aforementioned press conference, Sabalenka revealed that the controversial Battle of the Sexes exhibition against Nick Kyrgios has paid dividends for her preparation before the first Grand Slam of the season. She noted that she loved the challenge against Kyrgios and it was fun:
I mean, when you play against a guy, the intensity is completely different. Especially when there is Nick, who is drop-shotting every other shot, so you move a lot, so there was great fitness for me. And today I was, like, whew, let’s move around, you know. That exhibition, it was fun. It was a great challenge.
Sabalenka will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16 of the WTA 500 tournament. Should she beat Cirstea, she’s possibly going to face Madison Keys in the quarter-finals, a rematch of the Australian Open final. After that, she’s likely to face Elena Rybakina in the last four.
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