Iga Świątek did not mince words when asked about the heavily promoted Battle of the Sexes exhibition featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, offering a blunt and thoughtful assessment that cut through the noise surrounding the spectacle.
Speaking during media duties at the United Cup, the former World No. 1 made it clear that while the event succeeded as entertainment, she did not see it as relevant to broader conversations about gender or progress in the sport, nor did she feel it deserved comparison to the most iconic moment in women’s tennis history.
Breaking Down the Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios Exhibition and Its Wider Reaction
The exhibition match, staged on Dec. 28, 2025, at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, paired women’s World No. 1 Sabalenka against Kyrgios, who entered the contest ranked outside the top 600. Marketed as a modern-day spin on the 1973 Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs showdown, the match used modified rules designed to level the playing field.
Sabalenka competed on a slightly shortened court, and both players were limited to a single serve per point. Kyrgios won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in front of a lively crowd. The format and branding reignited familiar debates about fairness, comparisons between men’s and women’s tennis, and whether the “Battle of the Sexes” label still serves a purpose more than 50 years later.
Świątek, however, distanced herself from the hype and the symbolism. Asked directly whether she had watched the match and what she thought of it, the Polish star said she had not tuned in at all. “No, I haven’t watched, because I don’t watch stuff like that,” she said.
While acknowledging the buzz it generated, she framed the exhibition strictly as a show. “I think for sure it attracted a lot of attention. It was an entertainment, but I wouldn’t say that had anything to do with social change or any important topics,” Świątek explained.
She added that the only real link to the historic 1973 match was the name itself, saying, “I think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in ’73. That’s it.”
How Does Iga Świątek View the Role of Exhibitions and Mixed Events in Growing the Sport?
Her comments grew more pointed as she addressed the broader implications. Świątek stressed that women’s tennis no longer needs validation through direct comparison with the men’s game. “There were no more similarities because I feel like women’s tennis stands on its own right now,” she said.
“We have so many great athletes and great stories to present. We don’t necessarily need to compare to men’s tennis. It’s a totally different story.”
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Instead, she highlighted mixed events as a more meaningful way to bring fans together. “I think, honestly, there doesn’t need to be any competition,” Świątek said. “I think actually events like this one, United Cup, brings tennis all together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement.”
She also pointed to the appeal of mixed doubles, noting the rare chance to see singles stars team up across tours. “Seeing also singles players that usually don’t have space to play mixed doubles together, playing these kind of matches, I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and better.”
Summing up her view, she reiterated that the Dubai match was simply a show. “So yeah, I haven’t watched the match. I only know about how it looked like. But I think, yeah, it was for sure nice entertainment and an XO match between these two.”
Świątek is currently preparing to lead Poland at the United Cup, held from Jan. 2 to 11, 2026, across Perth and Sydney. Poland is competing in Group F alongside Germany and the Netherlands, with all of its ties scheduled at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Poland is set to open its group campaign against Germany, with Alexander Zverev facing Hubert Hurkacz in the opening singles rubber, before Eva Lys meets Świątek in the second singles match.
