Kyrgios to play female No.1 in Battle of the Sexes show

Nick Kyrgios, Australian erstwhile Wimbledon finalist, is to play women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka successful an accumulation lucifer successful Dubai.

The clash evokes memories of the 1973 Battle of the Sexes lucifer betwixt Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs — which King won successful straight sets successful the Houston Astrodome and was aboriginal the subject of a Hollywood movie.

Kyrgios besides follows Australians Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Pat Cash successful playing such a match.

The exhibition, to take spot connected December 28, was confirmed by some players connected κοινωνικά media. It is apt to beryllium played under modified rules including Kyrgios being restricted to a single serve.

“When the world No.1 challenges you, you reply the call. I’ve got monolithic respect for Aryna; she’s a powerhouse and a true champion,” said Kyrgios, who shares an cause with Sabalenka.

“But I’ve ne'er backed down from a challenge, and I’m not conscionable present to play, I’m present to entertain. This is what I unrecorded for.”

Kyrgios, 30, has hardly played successful caller years aft being plagued by injuries and is presently ranked 652nd successful the world.

He was successful the top 20 successful October '22 when helium was forced to withdraw from the quarter-final of the ATP 500 Tokyo Open with a near genu injury.

He has since played six matches, winning one, losing 4 and retiring successful the other. He past played connected the ATP Tour astatine the Miami Open successful March.

“I person a batch of respect for Nick and his talent, but marque nary mistake, I’m acceptable to bring my A-game,” Sabalenka, 27, has said of the match.

The Battle of the Sexes lucifer came aft Riggs, then 55 and a long-retired tennis pro, bushed Court successful May 1973.

Court, who won the Australian, French and US Open titles that year, mislaid 6-2 6-1 successful what was aboriginal dubbed the “Mother’s Day Massacre”.

King, who had initially rejected Riggs’ challenge, then felt she had to respond, successful what was promoted arsenic the archetypal authoritative Battle of the Sexes.

King won 6-4 6-3 6-3 successful beforehand of an estimated 90 cardinal TV viewers.

“I person so overmuch respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women’s game,” Sabalenka said.

“I’m arrogant to correspond women’s tennis and to beryllium portion of this modern take of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match.”

There person been plentifulness of different mixed-gender singles matches close backmost to 1888 when the Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles champions played each other. Ernest Renshaw bushed Lottie Dod 2-6 7-5 7-5 aft Dod began each crippled 30-0 up.

Among them successful 1975 Goolagong Cawley, then known arsenic Evonne Goolagong, bushed Ilie Nastase 7-5. The latter, a noted entertainer, entered tribunal successful a dress, was not allowed to unreserved the nett unless forced to by Goolagong’s shot, and lone had 1 service while the Australian could deed into the doubles alleys.

Cash, then successful his aboriginal fifties, mislaid to then-British No.1 Johanna Konta successful 2017, 6-3. The lucifer was played successful a buying centre, connected an artificial surface, with erstwhile subordinate Greg Rusedski umpiring and Cash described arsenic “flamboyant” with his shot-making.

Source: AAP