EMBARRASSING, farcical and ridiculous – and those were some of the kindest comments made online about the Battle of the Sexes in Dubai.
wanted the sporting world to tune in and in the Middle East.
Aryna Sabalenka lost her Battle of the Sexes tennis match against Nick KyrgiosCredit: Reuters
The Aussie won in straight sets in a farcical cash grabCredit: AFP
It certainly got everyone’s attention and celebrities such as Ronaldo (the fat, Brazilian one), Kaka and Peter Crouch were among those in the 17,000-strong crowd.
The duo – who belong to the same management company – created the buzz, got the global TV audience they craved, and made a lot of money for their pension pots.
Yet as the world No.671 in men’s tennis beat the top female player 6-3 6-3 – in a tie beset by humiliating technical problems.
Fans hated the clunky way it looked, with “crew members” standing in as line judges, and Kyrgios’s court being ridiculously wider to give Sabaleka, the reigning US Open champion, a chance.
Rules were also amended so that there was only one serve each, which diluted the Belarussian’s biggest weapon, a powerful first serve.
Apart from the inevitable under-arm serves, which Kyrgios once did to cheeky effect on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, there were not many long rallies or exciting moments.
There was little jeopardy as Sabalenka’s serve let her down in the key moments and Kyrgios – who has only played five singles matches in 2025 due to a succession of injuries – comfortably won this exhibition clash.
Kyrgios’s movement was slow and limited and he was heavily panting and sweating.
The two Battle of the Sexes clashes in the 1970s were all about fighting social injustice and trying to improve the women’s lib.
People still talk about Billie Jean King famously beating chauvinist Bobby Riggs in three sets and films and books have been made about that historic tie in Houston in 1973.
There were plenty of celebs on show in Dubai including football legend Ronaldo NazarioCredit: Reuters
Fellow Brazil icon Kaka was also present for the PR exerciseCredit: Getty
This, however, was a money-making, brand-building exercise and everyone fell for it – it did not live up to the hype. Few will remember it come the end of the week.
When Sabalenka broke off in a time-out to perform the Macarena Dance on court, you realised this was all a lot of farcical nonsense.
Some of the dosh should have been towards the production as there were numerous technical issues.
BBC commentators had to repeatedly apologise because viewers could hear Sabalenka’s screeching but could not see the images as the screen froze.
It was really not good enough but then this was just a knockabout – not a proper competition.
Kyrgios, 30, said: “Honestly it was a really tough match. She’s a hell of a competitor and such a great champion.
“I didn’t really know what to expect. Whatever role I was to play, it was just another great opportunity to go out here. I’d love to play here again.
“Seeing someone as great as Sabalenka out here and myself, it truly is a spectacle, and a great stepping stone forward for the sport of tennis.
“I was nervous. Aryna was up for the challenge, and the scoreline was close. I was under the pump. This was all the world was talking about for the last six months.”
Sabalenka, 27, who lost the second set despite being 3-1 up, said: “I put up a great fight. He was struggling. He got really tired.
“Really enjoyed the show. Next time when I play him, I already know the tactics, his strengths and weaknesses, and it will be a better match for sure.
“I love to challenge myself and I’d love to play again.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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