World number one Aryna Sabalenka has said she wants a rematch of her much-discussed “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition against Nick Kyrgios, insisting she is eager for revenge after losing the first encounter.
Kyrgios beat the Belarusian 6–3, 6–3 in a high-profile exhibition match in Dubai last Sunday. The contest was played under modified rules that proved controversial, with Sabalenka’s side of the court reduced by nine per cent and both players limited to a single serve.
“I think I would definitely do it again,” Sabalenka said on Thursday as she prepared for the Brisbane International, her opening tournament of the season ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January. “I love revenge and I don’t like to leave it the way it is.”
While keen on a rematch, the three-time Grand Slam champion said any future meeting would need a revised format. “I think for the next match we will come up with a different format,” she said. “Before the match I didn’t realise I would have to adjust and it was a bit tricky for me. I would keep the full court and take two serves. That would even things out a lot more.”
Sabalenka said the experience, despite the defeat, was a valuable learning opportunity. “I always say that when you are losing, you are learning, and I learned a lot about his game,” she said. “I would do it again. I need revenge.”
The exhibition drew comparisons with the iconic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, though the stakes were markedly different. That match carried major significance for women’s tennis, as King’s newly formed professional tour fought for legitimacy and equal recognition. King, then at the height of her career, defeated the 55-year-old Riggs 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 in Houston.
The Sabalenka–Kyrgios showdown, by contrast, faced criticism from some quarters, with detractors labelling it a “money grab” and questioning its value to the women’s game. Sabalenka, however, defended the concept of exhibition tennis.
“I think it’s really important for tennis to keep it interesting, keep it fresh, keep it new and keep it fun,” she said.
Despite Kyrgios having played little competitive tennis in recent years and being ranked as low as 671, Sabalenka said she was proud of her performance. “I am happy that I was able to challenge him, make him work and make him physically and mentally tired,” she said. “It was a really cool experience.”
The Brisbane International gets underway on Sunday, with Sabalenka targeting a third Australian Open title after her triumphs in 2023 and 2024. She was beaten in the Melbourne Park final last year by Madison Keys.
