Nick Kyrgios Roasts Alexander Bublik Following Criticism on Battle of the Sexes Match

Few knew what to expect from the latest edition of the “Battle of the Sexes.” Nick Kyrgios, returning after nearly two years away from competitive play, faced current WTA world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai. The matchup promised intrigue, unpredictability, and a rare look at two contrasting styles on the same court.

In the end, Kyrgios’s 6–3, 6–3 victory in Dubai was only part of the story. The real talking point came afterward in the press conference, where the 2022 Wimbledon finalist addressed and strongly reacted to recent comments from his friend Alexander Bublik. Kyrgios said in his post-match press conference:

That’s an interesting comment coming from someone who modeled his entire game on me. I mean, we all think that. Someone had to say it. But Bublik is a very good friend of mine. And let me start by saying that watching him and seeing how well he did last year was incredible. I always knew he had the ability to do these extraordinary things and achieve these incredible feats.

If the fans thought the drama stayed on the court, they clearly haven’t been paying attention to Kyrgios’ career. Despite the confidence, the Australian admitted that he was under pressure to deliver in this match. He added:

But listen, Bublik, let me tell you, some players were messaging me every day saying, ‘You represent us.’ That was a huge amount of pressure. Bublik wasn’t the only one. I’m not going to name names because they hounded me for days and weeks! But it was tough. It wasn’t easy. Bublik is next! It’s up to you!

To understand Kyrgios’s reaction, it helps to look back a few months. During an appearance on the First & Red podcast, Alexander Bublik made remarks about the Battle of the Sexes event, suggesting that Kyrgios might not have been his choice to represent the men in such a matchup.

Nick Kyrgios vs. Aryna Sabalenka, as it happened

The match itself delivered the kind of spectacle typical of an exhibition event. Adjustments included a reduced court area for Aryna Sabalenka, a single serve rule that tested both players’ rhythm, and a few lighthearted moments, including the Belarusian briefly breaking into the Macarena during play.

Despite the gimmicks, Nick Kyrgios looked surprisingly sharp for someone who has been on the sidelines. He moved well enough, his serve was popping, and he took the win in straight sets. Sabalenka, for her part, seemed to have fun with it, despite later admitting that the single-serve rule messed with her rhythm.

Now, the duo will look forward to preparing themselves for the Australian Open. Sabalenka will be the favorite to reclaim her Melbourne crown that was taken away from her this year by Madison Keys. Meanwhile, Kyrgios hopes to receive a wildcard.

Nick Kyrgios returns for 2026 season

What does this mean moving forward? For Aryna Sabalenka, it is back to dominating the WTA Tour. For Nick Kyrgios, this exhibition served as a welcome warm-up ahead of his competitive return.

He’s officially taking a wildcard for the Brisbane International to kick off his 2026 season. While his Australian Open status is still up in the air (he needs a wildcard there, too), this exhibition proved one thing: the sport is just louder when Kyrgios is around.

The Australian hasn’t played an official ATP match since the Miami Open this year. He has struggled with injuries constantly since the 2022 US Open.

Also Read: Jack Draper Shares Disappointing Update After Pulling Out of the Australian Open

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW