Nick Kyrgios Believes Only a Few Men Can Compete with Top Female players like Aryna Sabalenka

Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka will face off in the fourth edition of the Battle of the Sexes exhibition in Dubai.

Nick Kyrgios Believes Only a Few Men Can Compete with Top Female players like Aryna Sabalenka

Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via/ ESPN)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

With the Battle of the Sexes soon set to take place in Dubai between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, there has been more chatter and discussion about it. However, amid the controversy surrounding it, Kyrgios is relishing the opportunity to face the World No.1 and has gone on to say that only a few male players can challenge the best women’s player in the world.

Sabalenka has, for the past one and a half seasons, been the best player in the WTA circuit. The 27-year-old toppled her rival Iga Swiatek last year in October and has maintained her stay at the top of the WTA rankings since then. This year, she won four titles, including the US Open, and got to nine tour-level finals.

On a few occasions, Sabalenka has been spotted practising with top ATP players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. The two top male players have praised her skills on the court, but didn’t reveal if she was better than most ATP players. But Kyrgios, who has not played more than five singles tour-level matches this year, is set to face her at the Battle of the Sexes clash in Dubai.

The exhibition has been heavily criticized by former and current players. Also, there’s a huge concern that Sabalenka’s side of the court been 9% smaller, while Kyrgios is allowed to utilize only one serve throughout the match, which makes it a bit awkward. The match is certainly not going to be as regular a tour-level match.

Kyrgios featured at the World Tennis League, and he was asked about his forthcoming tie against Sabalenka. The former World No.13 revealed that he’s very confident of his ability heading into the clash, but noted that Sabalenka is currently the best player in the women’s circuit and not many male players can beat her:

I think my chances are really high. I’m very confident in my ability. It’s going to be fun, but I’m also a bit nervous. I like doing things that are outside the box. Honestly, not many males in my position would have done that and taken the opportunity. I don’t know what’s going to happen, we’ll see. I’ve been in a lot of controversies in my whole career and this is another thing I get to experience.

Kyrgios has begun ramping up his preparation as he intends to return to the tour in 2026. Despite not being sure of getting a wild card entry into the 2026 Australian Open draw, the Aussie featured at the Atlanta Cup early this month before falling to a defeat against Tommy Paul at the Madison Square Garden Cup.

Aryna Sabalenka boasts that she will beat Nick Kyrgios at the Battle of the Sexes exhibition

Aryna Sabalenka is expected to be a lot sharper than Nick Kyrgios heading into the Battle of the Sexes exhibition. She has competed regularly at the top of the circuit throughout 2025 and reached three Grand Slam finals, winning the US Open. She reached the final of her last tournament but eventually ended up as runner-up after losing to Elena Rybakina.

Aryna Sabalenka (4)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/Wimbledon)

Sabalenka will be seeking to win the fourth version of the Battle of the Sexes clash on December 28. In a press release via The National, Sabalenka noted that she’s eager to beat Kyrgios in front of the fans:

Dubai always brings incredible energy and I can’t wait to step into the arena and connect with the fans. This match is something totally different, and I’m excited to test myself in a new mixed-gender format. Fans can expect an intense match and a lot of fun – I’m coming to win. Nick better be ready.

Sabalenka will hope to use the exhibition match as a motivation for the 2026 season as she aims to continue her dominance on tour. She will be eager to win her fifth Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January, having won it on two occasions in her career and reached the final three consecutive times.

Also Read: Andy Roddick Raises Questions About the Timing of Carlos Alcaraz’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero