With only a few days remaining until the much-talked-about Battle of the Sexes featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, yet another question has been raised about its premise. Renowned Australian tennis coach Roger Rasheed recently questioned the event’s value, calling the idea “insulting” and casting doubt on whether it would benefit the Belarusian in any meaningful way.
Roger Rasheed Takes Aim at Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios’ Battle of Sexes Match
The much-awaited clash will take place on December 28 at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, with the contest set to be played on indoor hard courts. The event is being organized by Evolve, the management firm headed by Naomi Osaka, which assumed control of Sabalenka’s representation in January 2025 after her separation from IMG. Notably, the same company has also handled Kyrgios’ career since 2022.
Sabalenka heads into the contest after her recent appearances at the Atlanta Cup and the Garden Cup exhibition events in the United States. Her performance in the 2025 season underlined her trademark dominance, as she closed the season with an impressive 63–12 win–loss record.
The 27-year-old captured four tour titles, including WTA 1000 triumphs in Madrid and Miami, along with a Grand Slam crown at the US Open. She also finished runner-up at the Australian Open, the French Open, and the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios remains in the midst of a challenging period, hampered by persistent injury setbacks, with his most recent appearance being a doubles match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in July. The Aussie was also a notable name from the men’s field at the recently concluded Atlanta Cup and Garden Cup exhibition events, where he even shared the court with Sabalenka in mixed doubles.
Attention now turns to their much-awaited clash later this month. While a section of fans and pundits are eagerly anticipating the contest, drawing comparisons to the iconic 1973 showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, others remain unconvinced by the concept and have voiced their doubts.
Australian coach Roger Rasheed is the latest to question the idea, openly expressing his doubts about the contest.
Speaking recently on the ABC Sport’s Summer Grandstand program, the 56-year-old criticized the event, calling it a “lose-lose” for women. He questioned its value for Sabalenka, arguing it offered no real benefit for the world No. 1, either competitively or commercially.
“We haven’t done this right? I think it’s a lose-lose for the women’s side … I actually think it’s quite insulting, to be perfectly honest. I don’t see where there’s one minute, one second of win for the number one player in the world. If you are looking after Sabalenka commercially, is this a place where you want to be?” he said.
This isn’t the first time the Battle of the Sexes exhibition has faced scrutiny. Former Australian player Rennae Stubbs, long known for her candid opinions, openly criticized the event a few days ago, asserting that it is motivated more by commercial interests than a genuine effort to advance women’s tennis.
