'Not the real deal': Casper Ruud slams Sabalenka and Kyrgios's Battle of Sexes match

Tuesday, 23 December 2025 at 17:45

byJordan Reynolds

Casper Ruud did not hide his true feelings when asked about Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios's divisive Battle of the Sexes contest, scheduled for December 28th.

The concept is not new, with the most famous example being Billie Jean King's battle against Bobby Riggs in 1973. Jean King won that match in what remains one of the most-watched sporting events in U.S. history.

Kyrgios and Sabalenka have spoken of their excitement about the match. The WTA world No. 1 thinks the pressure is all on Kyrgios and believes she can benefit women's tennis by competing against him.

However, some fans are staunchly opposed to the idea. Among the concerns is that Kyrgios might comfortably defeat Sabalenka despite expected rule changes deliberately designed to benefit her.

Both players having one serve, and Sabalenka getting a larger court area to hit into, are among the anticipated alterations. It is apparent that organizers were concerned that the Belarusian would have no chance of breaking against Kyrgios's first serve.

Despite the rationale behind the moves, Ruud does not like those changes. He outlined that position to Greg Rusedski on Off Court With Greg at the 2025 Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London.

"If you really want to do it, you should have fair playing grounds. If it’s not the same court on both sides and two serves, it’s not the real deal."

That want for a proper match without any rule changes is a sentiment shared by many. However, concerns about the potential damage to women's tennis if Kyrgios wins such a match 6-0, 6-0 are understandable.

Andrey Rublev, Alex de Minaur, and Greg Rusedski struggle to take Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka's match seriously

In an interview with Greg Rusedski, Andrey Rublev said the planned match later this month between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka sounds like a show, suggesting he does not expect it to be an intense battle.

"For me, as a spectator, it's a show, but I have not spoken with them. I don't know whether they are going to play pool or something, but for me, it's a show."

Alex de Minaur, who ultimately won UTS London, acknowledged that it is challenging to know exactly how the match will play out, but he also leans toward the view that the event is a gimmick rather than a serious occasion.

"At the moment, we don't know what's going to happen. I agree with you (Rusedski) about a gimmick because don't know what will happen, whether they're in full form, how the court will vary, the conditions..."

De Minaur's saying he agreed with Rusedski was in response to the former British No. 1 outlining his position on the podcast. The 1997 US Open finalist does not think it is a real Battle of the Sexes if the court dimensions are changed.

"For it to be a real Battle of the Sexes, the court dimensions have to be the same and it has to be tennis. It could be one set, but it has to be two serves. The court size has to be the same because that’s the way tennis is played."