Former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza has hit out at Aryna Sabalenka’s scheduled match against Nick Kyrgios. The retired Spanish ace has argued she would have personally lost to an amateur men’s player when she was world No.1.
Sabalenka, who currently tops the WTA rankings, is set to face Kyrgios in a controversial three-set contest on Sunday, December 28. The exhibition is being held in Dubai and will have altered rules, with Sabalenka’s side of the court being nine per cent smaller and both players being limited to one serve. It is an attempt to replicate the famous Battle of the Sexes clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973, which King won in straight sets. However, Muguruza, who clinched the Wimbledon title in 2017, does not rate Sabalenka’s chances of replicating King’s triumph due to Kyrgios’ physicality.
“I’ve had so many [male] hitting partners, and every time I had to play a practice set against them, I’d end up super frustrated,” she told El Partidazo de COPE. “How can it be that I can’t win a set against someone who isn’t even a professional player, someone who’s just a sparring partner?”
“The difference is huge. It’s not just power – physically… the muscles, the stamina a man has to play a match… There are so many things. I have two brothers and I’ve never beaten them.
“A guy who is ranked 1,000 in the world or doesn’t even have a ranking could be far superior to a top-10 player on the WTA circuit. When I was at my best level, being world No.1, I wouldn’t have even beaten a junior.”
Kyrgios, 30, is currently 673rd in the ATP rankings, having had limited action since returning from a career-threatening wrist injury. Sabalenka has faced criticism for agreeing to the match, as a defeat could be perceived as damaging for women’s tennis, but the 27-year-old has offered a different perspective.
“I don’t agree,” Sabalenka told BBC Sport. “I am not putting myself at any risk. We’re there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins.
“It’s so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it’s not about that. This event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level.”
She added: “It’s not going to be an easy match for Nick. I’m going to be there competing and showing women are strong, powerful and good entertainment. He’s in a lose-lose situation. I’m in a win-win situation.”