World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka and the whimsical Australian Nick Kyrgios, now 671st in the world, meet on Sunday in Dubai for an exhibition match called “Battle of the Sexes” by the promoters. A duel with very different stakes from the founding victory of Billie Jean King against Bobby Riggs in 1973.
On Sunday, the objective will be to “have fun” and put Kyrgios “in an uncomfortable position”, the Belarusian summed up at the beginning of December.
“I want more people to watch tennis,” Kyrgios underlined at the microphone of British host Piers Morgan, who received the two protagonists on his show on December 9. The Australian wants to “put on a show” while “having a little fun” too.
This match therefore has nothing to do with the confrontation between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. In 1973, “I had to beat him (Riggs) in the name of societal change,” added the former world tennis glory. The very young professional women’s circuit was seeking at the time to assert its legitimacy and the financial allocations paid to the players remained much lower than those of the men.
“It was a very political match (…) This is not the case” of the confrontation between Kyrgios and Sabalenka, insisted the American.
Adjusted rules that are debated
To balance the duel, played in two winning sets, the rules have been adjusted. Each participant will have a single serve, and the Belarusian’s half of the court will have an area 9% smaller than that of her opponent.
And obviously, these modified rules are causing some teeth-grinding in the world of tennis. Asked about this in Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC, Alizé Cornet judged this match “ridiculous”: “I have the impression that there is only talk around that and that ultimately the game only comes in the background. These new rules, in particular that of having shortened the court for Sabalenka, I find it absolute stupidity. “.
Same story with Rennae Stubbs who thinks that the only reason for this match is linked to the fact that Evolve, the agency managing the interests of Kyrgios and Sabalenka, has the opportunity to “make a little money”. So good atmosphere.
