Top Journalist Slams Battle of the Sexes Between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios as Aussie ‘Represents Misogyny’

Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios were last seen in action at the WTA Finals and the Citi Open, respectively.

Top Journalist Slams Battle of the Sexes Between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios as Aussie ‘Represents Misogyny’

Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/HQ VITA, Aryna Sabalenka Archive)

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The upcoming Aryna Sabalenka versus Nick Kyrgios Battle of the Sexes match has sparked a debate. While many are expecting it to be an entertaining contest, the critics are struggling to believe the purpose of the match.

Catherine Whitaker, a top tennis commentator, has given her take on the controversial event. Because of Kyrgios’ past comments on women as well as women’s tennis, Whitaker said Kyrgios represents nothing but misogyny. She said on The Tennis Podcast:

Nick Kyrgios, a man that stands for something, he represents something. And that’s not an accident. He’s choosing to stand for and represent misogyny, that is his brand. This is what Nick Kyrgios will be representing and fighting for in the self-titled Battle of the Sexes.

Kyrgios had assaulted his former girlfriend but was not convicted by the court. He was accused of misogyny when he called his former girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya “second serve,” while she was dating Jannik Sinner. He also made an inappropriate comment about Donna Vekic back in 2015.

A win for him in this event will be perceived and pitched as a win for what he represents, a validation of his belittling of women’s tennis, of the way he perceives women and women’s sport as being lesser, purely on the basis of brute power. This event it feels like a dog whistle, a publicity stunt, a symptom of the populist Trumpian age of dog whistles and division and stupidity.

Catherine Whitaker added

The exhibition event will be organized by Evolve, the agency of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. It’s scheduled to be held on December 28 in Dubai.

Kyrgios ended his 2025 season after the Citi Open, where he played doubles alongside Frenchman Gael Monfils. He registered just one win this season- against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the Miami Open.

Aryna Sabalenka admits it would be tough to beat the top 1000 ATP players

Aryna Sabalenka sat for an interview with Piers Morgan alongside Nick Kyrgios to discuss the Battle of the Sexes match. During the interview, the Belarusian was asked whether she would be able to beat a top 1000 player. Sabalenka said she could beat if the courts are smaller and the ATP player doesn’t serve well, but in normal conditions, it would be tough for her to beat a man.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/Roland Garros)

Well, to be honest, I think if we play like full court, full rules, yeah, it would be really tough for me to compete against guys. I mean, physically, they are much stronger…speed, the power of balls, everything is just much stronger.

Aryna Sabalenka said

Sabalenka made a controversial comment regarding trans athletes. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion doesn’t advocate for trans inclusion in women’s tennis, saying it will be unfair because these biological men “have a huge advantage over women“.

Sabalenka also responded to fellow WTA player Marta Kostyuk‘s claims, according to which, the reason the World No.1 dominates so much on the tour is that she has higher testosterone levels. Sabalenka rubbished such claims, calling the Ukrainian’s comments “excuses”. Sabalenka has won all four matches she played against Kostyuk.

This year, Sabalenka took home four titles from nine finals. One of the trophies was the US Open, which she clinched by defeating home favorite Amanda Anisimova. The other titles were the Brisbane International, Madrid Open, and the Miami Open.

Apart from these events, Sabalenka also made the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open, but failed to go past Madison Keys and Coco Gauff, respectively. Sabalenka also reached the championship clash of the WTA Finals for the second time, but the match ended in disappointment as Elena Rybakina denied her the title.

Also read: Nick Kyrgios Claims What Needs to Happen for Alex de Minaur to Win the Australian Open 2026