Before Sabalenka & Kyrgios: A Historic Tennis Rivalry

An event whose goal seems difficult to decipher, which can be misinterpreted by many, but which generates media interest and a show with very positive economic repercussions. This is how you can define the Battle of the Sexes proposed for this December 28 between Aryna Sabalenka y Nick Kyrgiosbut what happened in previous confrontations between a female player and a male player?

These are good times for gender equality in tennis, a sport that has been at the forefront for years in the fight for women’s rights and equal pay. There is still a way to go, with many fans who look at women’s tennis with disdain and trivialize the spectacle it offers. It seems that the Battle of the Sexes in which Aryna Sabalenka will be measured at Nick Kyrgios The goal may be to open the eyes of these people and revalue women’s tennis, although nothing comes before the show and a media circus of dubious good taste.

There have been 5 matches between a woman and a man in tennis before the duel between Sabalenka and Kyrgios

This was not always the case. There was a time when a tennis duel between a woman and a man had real and important objectives. The first time something like this was seen was in 1973, when the former player Bobby Riggsat 55 years old, tried to undervalue women’s tennis, which was embarked on the fight to become professional and gain rights like those that men already had, with the Open Era started in 1968 and the ATP circuit underway. He challenged Margaret Court and beat the Australian 6-1 6-2, who was not in her best moment after giving birth a few months ago.

What was generated after that confrontation and the danger of it being a brake on the development of the WTA, made Billie-Jean Kingthe great leader of the feminist movement in tennis, challenged Bobby Riggs to another party, which moved exorbitant economic amounts and generated enormous media attention. A movie was made about this story and the American, at 30 years old, won in three sets (6-4 6-3 6-3), but not without controversy due to suspicions that Riggs bet against her to lose, since she had financial problems.

Regardless of that, it was a huge boost for the formation of the WTA and women’s tennis. We had to wait many years, specifically until 1992, to see another confrontation between man and woman. This time they were Martina Navratilova y Jimmy Connors the protagonists, the American having only one serve and Martina being able to play with the doubles aisle, although at all times she ignored that advantage and played as if it were a normal match. Connors won 7-5 6-2, at 40 years old, against a Navratilova who was 35 and who showed her face.

The only victory was that of Billie-Jean King, against a 55-year-old Bobby Riggs

Barely six years later, in full fever over the emergence of the Williams sisters, they proposed a duel in Australia against the 203rd in the world, the German Karsten Braasch. They sought to demonstrate that, with their power and superiority over their rivals, they were capable of competing against men. However, the German won 6-1 in the first set against Serena and 6-2 in the second against Venus. Serena herself was surprised by her opponent’s superiority, stating that she had hit blows that would be winners against any player, but that Braasch returned them with ease.

The only precedent of an unofficial duel between a man and a woman in the 21st century was the one between Mirra Andreevawhen he was 16 years old, compared to 1,145 in the world, Yanis. The Frenchman was notified a few hours in advance that Kostyuk had refused to play against Mirra, due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, and they asked him to compete so that the people who had bought tickets could enjoy the show. The Frenchman won 7-5 6-2, when Andreeva was number 57 in the world.

It is as obvious to affirm that the difference in physical power is insurmountable between men and women, as it is to point out that this should not overshadow one iota the great spectacle offered by women. No one ever tried to point out that they could compete face to face with men, this being something that cannot lead us to trivialize, undervalue or treat women’s tennis with condescension. It remains to be seen what happens in the Battle of the Sexes between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgiosas well as the consequences it has on public opinion.