Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Makes Outrageous Claim About Upcoming Battle of the Sexes Match Between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka will headline the fourth Battle of Sexes match in history.

Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Makes Outrageous Claim About Upcoming Battle of the Sexes Match Between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios

Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/AllAboutHQ, Tiempo De Tenis)

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Just when the fans thought the upcoming “Battle of the Sexes” showdown between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka couldn’t get any more theatrical, a new challenger approaches. And honestly, it wouldn’t be a true tennis circus without Patrick Mouratoglou throwing his hat in the ring.

The famous French coach, known for guiding Serena Williams and founding the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), dropped a bombshell recently. While the world is busy debating the bizarre rules set for the December 28th exhibition in Dubai, Mouratoglou is focused on the receipts. According to him, the entire event was his brainchild, and the organizers pulled a fast one on him.

In a recent interview, Mouratoglou didn’t mince words about the upcoming spectacle. He claims that the concept of rebooting the historic Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs format for the modern era was something he actively pitched to the players involved. Mouratoglou said on Off Court with Greg:

I can’t say I’m not convinced – the Battle of the Sexes has been around for 50 years, we all know the story – because it was my idea to bring this match back. I suggested it to the guys and they kind of stole the idea from me. It’s okay this time, but they’d better not do it again (smile).

Mouratoglou isn’t just saying they had a similar thought; he’s implying a full-on intellectual property heist. While he laughed it off with a smile, the warning shot that followed was anything but a joke.

Battle of the Sexes: A match nerfed into oblivion?

If Patrick Mouratoglou is upset about being cut out of the creative process, he might actually be dodging a bullet regarding the execution. The more details that emerge about this Dubai exhibition, the less it resembles a tennis match, and the more it resembles a video game where the developers panicked and nerfed the main boss.

Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (2)
Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk, Quindici Zero)

To make the playing field “even,” the organizers have introduced rules that seem irrelevant to the modern game. Both players only get one serve. No second chances.

This is clearly designed to cripple Nick Kyrgios, whose serve is arguably his biggest weapon. Aryna Sabalenka’s side of the court will reportedly be smaller than Kyrgios’.

Why this screams Patrick Mouratoglou?

To be fair to Patrick Mouratoglou, if anyone was going to cook up a tennis format that prioritizes entertainment over tradition, it’s him. Mouratoglou has spent the last few years trying to “fix” tennis boredom with his UTS league, introducing cards, shorter quarters, and mid-match interviews.

Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (2)
Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/HQ pics, AllAboutHQ)

This “Battle of the Sexes” feels exactly like something from his playbook. It’s flashy, it stars polarizing figures (Kyrgios is basically the villain of the ATP, and Sabalenka is a powerhouse), and it’s designed for the TikTok generation rather than the Wimbledon crowd.

It makes sense that he’d be annoyed. He essentially (allegedly) handed them the blueprint for a viral moment, and now Evolve is running with it to the bank. On December 28, the fans will witness a strange, hybrid version of tennis that will likely infuriate purists and delight casual fans.

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