The upcoming exhibition match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios is drawing significant attention throughout the tennis world. Scheduled for December 28 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, this event has sparked considerable discussion among tennis observers and professionals. Many in the community have raised concerns about what this matchup means for women’s tennis moving forward.
Rennae Stubbs Shares Her Thoughts on the Aryna Sabalenka-Nick Kyrgios Battle of the Sexes Match
Sabalenka and Kyrgios will compete in what’s being called the fourth Battle of the Sexes in tennis history on December 28 in Dubai. The exhibition features special rules to level the playing field, with Kyrgios limited to one serve and a smaller service box while Sabalenka plays under standard rules.
Before the official announcement, social media was filled with questions about whether this event holds real value for tennis. One observer pointed out that while the Battle of the Sexes carries historical significance, this Sabalenka-Kyrgios version appears to lack a clear purpose.
The critic noted that beyond using a famous name for marketing, the match could hurt women’s tennis regardless of the outcome. A Kyrgios victory would give ammunition to those arguing women’s tennis is weaker, while a Sabalenka win might get dismissed since Kyrgios hasn’t played much this year due to injury.
Rennae Stubbs, the renowned coach who worked with Serena Williams, responded on social media with a direct four-word comment: “Yeah, the one 50 years ago! Not this…..” Her message made clear she views the 1973 Battle of the Sexes as genuinely important to tennis history, while this new match doesn’t carry the same historical weight or cultural significance.
Yeah the one 50 years ago! Not this….. https://t.co/SV4gzwk5BQ
— Rennae Stubbs ♈️ (@rennaestubbs) November 4, 2025
Comparing the Sabalenka-Kyrgios Match with Previous Battle of the Sexes Matches
The original Battle of the Sexes took place on September 20, 1973, between Billie Jean King, 29, and Bobby Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion. Riggs had declared publicly that women’s tennis was inferior and that he could beat any top female player regardless of his age. He had already defeated Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1 that year in what became known as the “Mother’s Day Massacre.”
After Riggs continued making insulting comments about women in sports, King accepted his challenge, and what followed transcended tennis entirely. About 90 million people watched worldwide when King defeated Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, and her victory fundamentally changed how people viewed female athletes while strengthening the push for equal pay in professional tennis.
In 1992, Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova played their own Battle of the Sexes, called the Battle of Champions, which focused on entertainment and money rather than social change. Connors, age 40, defeated Navratilova, age 35, with a score of 7-5, 6-2.