What: \u201cBattle of the Sexes\u201d exhibition tennis match
Where: Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
When: Sunday at 7.45pm (15:45 GMT)
How to follow: We\u2019ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport<\/a> from 13:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s world number one Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios in a \u201cBattle of the Sexes\u201d exhibition tennis match in Dubai on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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Sabalenka, 27, will face the 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist in a modern rendition of tennis icon Billie Jean King\u2019s 1973 showdown with fellow American Bobby Riggs, which turned out to be a watershed moment for both tennis and the women\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n
Here is all to know before their much anticipated showdown:<\/p>\n
How did the Sabalenka-Kyrgios match come about?<\/p>\n
Kyrgios, who was ranked as high as 13 in the world in men\u2019s singles, threw down the gauntlet to Sabalenka during the US Open in September, saying in an interview he would easily dispatch the Belarusian without having to try \u201c100 percent to win\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said women cannot return professional men\u2019s serves and claimed he would defeat the world\u2019s top-ranked female player.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka responded by saying she was ready to \u201ckick a**\u201d, which eventually led to Evolve, the marketing agency that represents both players, organising this weekend\u2019s matchup.<\/p>\n
![\"Aryna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-09-06T232752Z_1650044908_MT1USATODAY27021474_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-US-OPEN-1766591381.jpg\")
Aryna Sabalenka hits a backhand in the women\u2019s singles final of this year\u2019s US Open, which she won against Amanda Anisimova on September 6, 2025 [Mike Frey\/Imagn Images via Reuters]What\u2019s the history behind the \u2018Battle of the Sexes\u2019?<\/p>\n
The original \u201cBattle of the Sexes\u201d took place in 1973 between King, then 29, and Riggs, 55, at the Houston Astrodome.<\/p>\n
King, a 12-time singles Grand Slam champion, made history when she defeated the former men\u2019s world number one amateur player 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a matchup that drew an estimated 90 million TV viewers worldwide.<\/p>\n
King\u2019s straight-sets victory was considered a pivotal moment for women\u2019s sport at the time and solidified her status as a sports and feminist icon of her generation.<\/p>\n
What are the rules for \u2018Battle of the Sexes\u2019?<\/p>\n
Sabalenka, speaking on the Piers Morgan Uncensored YouTube show on December 9, said it would be \u201creally tough\u201d to compete against a male player of Kyrgios\u2019s standard using a full court and standard rules.<\/p>\n
As a result, there are several rule modifications for this match:<\/p>\n
The players will be limited to just one serve instead of two.
\nSabalenka\u2019s side of the court will be 9 percent smaller than a normal tennis court.
\nIt will be a best-of-three-sets contest \u2013 with a 10-point tiebreaker in the final set if required.
\nWhat has Sabalenka said about the match?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud to represent women\u2019s tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match,\u201d Sabalenka said in a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cDubai is my home, and I know this city loves big, entertaining events. I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I\u2019m ready to bring my A-game.\u201d<\/p>\n
What has Kyrgios said about the match?<\/p>\n
Kyrgios said he\u2019ll defeat the four-time Grand Slam champion without having to try hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she\u2019s the type of player who genuinely thinks she\u2019s going to win,\u201d Kyrgios said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is not gonna beat me. Do you really think I have to try 100 percent? I\u2019m gonna try because I\u2019m representing the men\u2019s side. I\u2019d say like 6-2 maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m going to be OK. I\u2019m going to go there, and I don\u2019t want her to win. That\u2019s for sure,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2022-07-10T191838Z_686782950_MT1USATODAY18679756_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-WIMBLEDON-1766591524.jpg\")
Nick Kyrgios, right, finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the 2022 Wimbledon men\u2019s final [File: Peter van den Berg\/USA Today Sports via Reuters]Is oft-injured Kyrgios planning a return to professional tennis?<\/p>\n
Kyrgios will compete at \u200dnext month\u2019s \u200dBrisbane International after receiving a wildcard entry, organisers said on Sunday, as he works towards a potential \u200breturn to the 2026 Australian Open.<\/p>\n
His career has been ravaged by injury over the past couple of \u200dyears, and \u2060he played only five singles matches in 2025, the most recent at the Miami Open in March.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios, the 2018 Brisbane champion, is now ranked \u200b673rd in the \u200cworld with no protected ranking and will also need a wildcard to compete at Melbourne \u200cPark.<\/p>\n
How to watch the \u2018Battle of the Sexes\u2019<\/p>\n
The match is being broadcast live and free in the United Kingdom on BBC 1 and streamed on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n
Please check local guides for access in other countries.<\/p>\n