Aryna Sabalenka Remains Eager to Get Revenge Against Nick Kyrgios Despite Arriving at Brisbane for the 2026 Season

Aryna Sabalenka arrived in Brisbane for the WTA 500 tournament on the 30th of December, following the Battle of the Sexes clash against Nick Kyrgios. The 27-year-old was the favorite to win the match, but surprisingly lost to the World No.671 in straight sets. She’s yet to get over the loss and has hinted that she would be up for a rematch against Kyrgios.

The contest between Kyrgios and Sabalenka was very contentious, with many tennis fans, pundits, and former players criticising it. But that didn’t stop the organizers from going ahead with the match. The clash brought back memories of Billie Jean King’s famous victory over Bobby Riggs in straight sets.

The tennis legend was the only female player to have won a Battle of the Sexes clash, with Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova losing. Sabalenka was expected to become the second woman to claim a victory over a male player, as she was given an advantage of a 9% smaller side of the court compared to Kyrgios.

Also, the organizers revealed that just one first serve will be allowed with the aim of reducing Kyrgios’ advantage. But surprisingly, Kyrgios proved that he can play in any given condition as he defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 to win the fourth edition of the Battle of the Sexes exhibition match in Dubai.

Speaking during a press conference at the Brisbane International, Sabalenka was intensely questioned about the Battle of the Sexes clash, which was played on the 28 of December. The Belarusian star noted that she was happy about the match and the things she learned from the loss, but remains eager to have a revenge against Kyrgios:

I think I would definitely do it again. I love revenge and I don’t like to leave it the way it is. I think for the next match we will come up with a different format. Before the match, I didn’t realise I would have to adjust, and it was a bit tricky for me. I think I would keep the full court, but I would take two serves. That would even our level a lot more. I always say that when you are losing, you are learning, and I learned a lot about his game. I would do it again. I need revenge.

Sabalenka will have to close the 2025 chapter and focus on the 2026 season as she kicks off her campaign in Brisbane. She’s the defending champion and will be under pressure to retain the title, with the likes of Elena Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys also contending for it.

Aryna Sabalenka believes the Battle of the Sexes exhibition is good for tennis

Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios received a barrage of criticism before and after the Battle of the Sexes clash. Several pundits and former players, including former Grand Slam finalist Greg Rusedski, disapproved of the tie, stating that it didn’t add any value to the sport despite drawing global attention to the match.

During the aforementioned press conference, Sabalenka was asked about the criticism. The 27-year-old revealed that the Battle of the Sexes exhibition is needed in tennis to keep the sport interesting and fresh. She added that she was happy with her performance against Kyrgios as she made him work hard:

I think it’s really important for tennis to keep it interesting, keep it fresh, keep it new, keep it fun. I am happy that I was able to challenge him, make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired. I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game. It was a really cool experience.

Sabalenka dominated the 2025 season, reaching nine finals, including three Grand Slam finals. She won four titles, including the US Open. After the Brisbane International, she will switch her focus to the Australian Open, which she has won twice in the past three seasons on tour.

Also Read: Andy Roddick Praises Coco Gauff’s Rare Ability to Survive Tough Periods on Tour

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