Grand Slam Winner Questions Need for ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios: “No One Gives a F**k”

Serena Williams‘ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, declared that she finds the Aryna Sabalenka versus Nick Kyrgios match for the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ nothing but solely a PR stunt. The tennis world is eagerly waiting for the match, scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates on December 28.

But the match has also sparked debate, with several former players questioning whether such a display in a time like this is needed for the sport. Stubbs gave a harsh assessment of the exhibition event.

During her The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, she said that had it been held 150 years ago, it would have held a great deal of value, because at that time, women players were fighting for equality and their rights.

No one gives a f**k about what’s happening with Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios. I mean, the only reason they’re putting this on is because it is literally their company, Evolve, who’s their management company, is going, we’re going to make a bit of money here. This will be good. Get it on TV. Sell a few tickets. But what is in this for women’s tennis?

There have been several Battle of the Sexes exhibition events held before and after the famous Billie Jean King versus Bobby Riggs clash, where the former defeated the latter in three sets. The match was considered a milestone in the fight for gender equality in sports.

And Nick Kyrgios, unless he’s hurt, like really hurt and can’t run at all, he is going to win this match so easily. It’s just a fact, male tennis players, especially someone as good as Nick Kyrgios, if he’s playing at 50%, he’s going to win that match. And it just doesn’t make sense to me. Is Sabalenka going to be serious? Is it going to be like a joke?

Rennae Stubbs added

Evolve is Naomi Osaka‘s sports agency, which was launched in 2022 along with her former agent, Stuart Duguid, after her partnership with IMG ended in 2021. Kyrgios was the first client, joining in 2022, while Sabalenka left IMG to join her fellow four-time Grand Slam singles champion’s agency earlier this year.

Andy Roddick on Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance this year

This season, Aryna Sabalenka has featured in eight finals, winning four and losing the same number of matches. Thrice she featured in Grand Slam finals.

She failed to complete a three-peat at the Australian Open due to her defeat to Madison Keys and missed her first French Open title to Coco Gauff. But at the US Open, she prevailed over Amanda Anisimova to defend her title.

Along with one Major, the Belarusian also clinched titles at the Madrid Open, Miami Open, and the Brisbane International and played the finals at Indian Wells and the Stuttgart Open. Andy Roddick, during his Served podcast, said Sabalenka’s dominance is her progression.

She is the most reliable player on Tour, and I don’t know that there is a close second for 2025. I think this is the first time we have been able to say that.

Sabalenka will look toward reaching the semifinals of the ongoing WTA Finals, where she is bidding to win her first title. She came close to winning in 2022 as she reached the final but failed to go past Caroline Garcia. Last year, eventual champion Gauff knocked her out in the semifinals.

It’s the two-time Grand Slam singles champion whom she will be facing in her final round-robin match, scheduled to start on November 6. Before scheduling the match against the World No.3, the 27-year-old defeated Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Makes Interesting Stan Wawrinka Admission While Addressing the Retirement Question

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