Aryna Sabalenka Ready to ‘Kick A**’ in Battle of the Sexes Against Nick Kyrgios

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will be playing her career's seventh Grand Slam singles final at the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka Ready to ‘Kick A**’ in Battle of the Sexes Against Nick Kyrgios

Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Aryna Sabalenka Archive, Jose Morgado)

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Aryna Sabalenka will enter the Battle of the Sexes as the underdog. But she has made it clear that she would be giving her all against Nick Kyrgios.

The Aussie, although he made his tennis comeback after 18 months at the Brisbane International this season, has so far only played four singles tournaments, winning just one match. Since his defeat to Karen Khachanov in the second round of the Miami Open, Kyrgios played only one event- he played doubles along with Gael Monfils, losing in the first round.

But Sabalenka is enjoying red-hot form as she will be playing her third Grand Slam final of the season. On Thursday (September 4), Sabalenka overcame home favorite Jessica Pegula to reach three back-to-back finals at Flushing Meadows. At the press conference, she was asked about her thoughts on the Battle of the Sexes.

I think it’s cool idea. I think it’s gonna be spectacular to watch. It’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick. He said in another interview that I genuinely think that I’m going to win. And I’ll definitely go out there, and I’ll try my best to kick his a**.

As per some reports, the match will be held in Hong Kong in January before the Australian Open. But Sabalenka at present is uncertain about the date and place.

It’s gonna be a good thing if I’ll be able to win. But for now, we are not sure about the place. But definitely, if we’re going to bring it, we’re going to bring it to somewhere where it’s going to be a lot of people watching, and we’re gonna put a lot of pressure on Nick.

Aryna Sabalenka added

Kyrgios last played a tour-level singles final at the 2022 Washington Open, winning the match by beating Yoshihito Nishioka. His best performance was his appearance in the final of the 2022 Wimbledon, which he lost to Novak Djokovic.

Aryna Sabalenka will face Amanda Anisimova in the final

Aryna Sabalenka, in the final of the US Open, will be up against a player who has defeated her six times in their nine encounters, and who was also the reason why she crashed out of the Wimbledon semifinals. It’s Amanda Anisimova, who first took her revenge on Iga Swiatek, before she came from a set down to end a resurgent Naomi Osaka‘s campaign.

Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova (via X/The Tennis Letter)

It means a lot [that she reached three back-to-back finals at the US Open]. I’ll go there on Saturday, right? We’re playing on Saturday? I’ll go there on Saturday and I’ll fight for every point like the last point of my life.

Aryna Sabalenka said during the on-court interview

Sabalenka suffered three Grand Slam final defeats to American players. It was in New York back in 2023 that she lost to Coco Gauff. This season, Madison Keys denied her the three-peat at the Australian Open, while Gauff beat her in the French Open final.

Anisimova has reached a career-high No.4 ranking after reaching the US Open. Even if she wins, the points she will earn won’t be enough to remove Gauff from the third spot.

Sabalenka will continue to sit comfortably, now that No.2 Swiatek and Gauff have crashed out of the tournament. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion has so far reached eight finals and claimed three titles. Anisimova will be playing her fourth final of the season.

The only title she has clinched is her career’s first WTA 1000 trophy at the Qatar Open by defeating Jelena Ostapenko. Anisimova then lost the Queen’s Club Championships to Tatjana Maria and the Wimbledon final to Swiatek.

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