Aryna Sabelenka guarantees full confidence. Nick Kyrgios provides uncertainty.
In that sense, it will likely be enterprise as standard when Sabalenka faces Kyrgios in an up to date “Battle of the Sexes” match Sunday at Dubai.
As soon as warmups are full, although, it will likely be something goes.
“This occasion is admittedly unpredictable,” Sabalenka, 27, mentioned Saturday. “I do not know what to anticipate and that is what I like as a result of that is the sensation that you simply chase once you play sport.”
Kyrgios guarantees comparable chaos, which is hardly a shock, given his persona.
“If you realize me, you know the way unpredictable I’m, however I am as nicely ready as I probably may very well be,” Kyrgios, 30, mentioned. “I really feel like I’ll win.”
Within the matchup between good buddies, Sabalenka is coming off a yr by which the Belarus native gained her second consecutive U.S. Open girls’s title and the fourth grand slam title of her profession. Kyrgios is attempting to bounce again from accidents that restricted him to 5 singles matches in 2025.
Greater than give attention to the lady vs. man side to the match, each are attempting to advertise the must-see component for his or her sport.
“It is nice coaching for me and a fantastic message to the ladies on the market — I hope they’ll see how robust and hard I’m by taking part in towards a man,” Sabalenka mentioned.
The match additionally will function a tuneup for Kyrgios’ comeback from ankle and knee points lately. The Australia native is ready to play within the upcoming Brisbane Worldwide as a wild-card entry.
As soon as No. 13 on this planet in 2016, Kyrgios enters the brand new season ranked No. 673. Sabalenka is No. 1 within the girls’s rankings.
“I have never gained a grand slam (title) however I’ve walked out in a grand slam remaining,” mentioned Kyrgios, who misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the 2022 Wimbledon remaining. “That is one thing utterly totally different, I do not understand how my physique or my thoughts will react.
“It is a utterly totally different power. I’ll carry one thing totally different, for certain. My power has at all times been my unpredictability, even on the lads’s tour.”
A battle-of-the-sexes type match has been contested 3 times prior to now. There have been two in 1973 when Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Courtroom 6-2, 6-1 and Billie Jean King topped Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. In 1992, Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova 7-6, 6-2.
Through the Dubai match, Sabalenka’s aspect of the courtroom shall be 9% smaller, with each gamers restricted to at least one serve.
–Subject Degree Media
