Sydney: Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek dismissed the significance of the \u201cBattle of the Sexes\u201d event, which was heavily promoted during the 1973 tour, and stated that it represented only half of the overall women\u2019s tennis.<\/p>\n
Swiatek<\/a> said that while many view it as one of the top events in tennis history, on a global scale, women in tennis have nothing to prove and should not be measured against men\u2019s tennis when being compared to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t watched because I don\u2019t watch stuff like that,\u201d Swiatek said during press conference. \u201cI think for sure it attracted a lot of attention. It was entertainment, but I wouldn\u2019t say that had anything to do with social change or any important topics.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiatek, currently ranked No. 2 in the world and participating in the United Cup in Sydney this week, said the mixed team event was a far more meaningful way to celebrate women\u2019s tennis. The match between Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 in women\u2019s singles tennis, and Nick Kyrgios, the Australian entertainer, has been compared to the famous battle between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.<\/p>\n Kyrgios defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 by reducing the size of his side of the court by nine per cent to nullify Sabalenka\u2019s strength, speed and elevation advantage; however, Swiatek did not feel that any such comparison could be made. Swiatek remarked that the context that made the 1973 match era-defining is no longer relevant. Women\u2019s Tennis is now a legitimate global professional sport.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in \u201973. That\u2019s it,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were no more similarities because I feel like women\u2019s tennis stands on its own right now. We have so many great athletes and great stories to present, we don\u2019t necessarily need to compare to men\u2019s tennis. Honestly, there doesn\u2019t need to be any competition.\u201d<\/p>\n