Nick Kyrgios bests Aryna Sabalenka in 2025 Battle of the Sexes

Despite all the online criticism, the 2025 Battle of the Sexes took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with Nick Kyrgios winning the match.

The Battle of the Sexes is a significant term in tennis. There have been multiple such matches held over the years. In 1973, former ATP world No. 1 Bobby Riggs, then 55, took on Margaret Court, beating her 6-2, 6-1.

Months after that, Billie Jean King, who won the Wimbledon Championships that year, stepped up to beat Riggs in three sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, a match that was significant for women's tennis, as the WTA was founded in 1973 by King. That year's US Open was also the first major to offer equal prize money to men and women.

Nearly two decades later, Jimmy Connors beat Martina Navratilova in another edition of the Battle of the Sexes. Now, in 2025, Evolve, the agency behind both Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, organized a Battle of the Sexes match with special rules.

The match was held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the court on Sabalenka's side 9% smaller, and both players had only one serve.

The match has received plenty of criticism online, with many pundits and journalists suggesting women's tennis had nothing to gain from it. Others saw it as a pure form of entertainment and an exhibition match, just with a twist.

Both players arrived on the court with bright smiles on their faces. Sabalenka even wore a shiny coat, entering the court to "Eye of the Tiger," clearly enjoying the occasion.

It became obvious early on that there could be some great rallies on show, as the lack of a first serve meant more rallies and the smaller court on Sabalenka's side equalled the playing field a tiny bit.

Both players held their serve to start the match, but they both lost it twice in a row, with the score tied after six games at 3-3. That proved to be the crucial game of the first set, as Sabalenka lost a 40-15 lead after committing multiple double faults, or in this case, single faults, as players had only one serve.

Kyrgios then controlled the remainder of the first set, winning it 6-3. But he didn't carry the momentum into the second set, with Sabalenka getting the early break and leading 3-1.

She then had another break point to lead 4-1, but after failing to convert it, Kyrgios once again stepped up to beat the world's best female tennis player, 6-3, 6-3.

Throughout the match, it was evident that whenever the Australian wanted or needed it, he could find another gear and push Sabalenka around the court. At the same time, there were many great rallies and shots that the WTA world No. 1 produced, as she dominated some rallies by getting on the front foot early.

Overall, it was an entertaining match, thanks in part to the adjusted rules, which probably made it enjoyable for both players. The most significant difference seemed to be how players handled the rule of having only one serve. While Kyrgios barely missed, Sabalenka gave away way too many free points to her opponent.

If there were another edition of this exhibition, the match could be even closer and more exciting if the female player were allowed two serves. Other than that, the match was quite entertaining.