Fans slam ‘battle of the sexes’ tennis match after Kyrgios beats Sabalenka

Nick Kyrgios beat Alina Sabalenka won the 2025 edition of the “Battle of the Sexes” in straight sets in Dubai on Sunday, December 28, sparking jeers from fans on social media.

“Does Sabalenka realize how stupid this makes her look? Battle of the sexes…girl, so embarrassing,” said A fan via Xas well as screenshots from the game.

Kyrgios won the first two sets of the best-of-three set 6-3, 6-3.

Sunday’s “Battle of the Sexes” references the 1973 contest of the same name billie jane king and Bobby Riggs. King won that match, marking a historic moment in the advancement of women’s tennis.

The “Battle of the Sexes” in 2025 isn’t that important, it’s more of an entertainment feel than a big, cultural and arguably political occasion.

Despite the loss, Sabalenka hinted at the possibility of facing Kyrgios again.

“Really enjoyed the performance,” Sabalenka said after the game. “I feel like the next time I play him, I’ll know his tactics, his strengths and weaknesses, and it will definitely be a better game.”

Sabalenka’s performance won the favor of Kyrgios, who was obviously exhausted after the game.

“She’s an incredible athlete and when she moves from side to side, she’s hitting some of the shots that top men are hitting,” he said on the court after the game. “I’m not surprised, I’ve seen her play and we’ve practiced a few times. She’s right there and either way can happen.”

Kyrgios is currently ranked 671st in men’s singles and only played 5 games in 2025 while recovering from injury. He is the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2022.

“I’m nervous,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of people would put their hands up and be in this position. It was so close and I was frustrated out there. I was nervous and that’s what the whole world has been talking about for the last six months. A year, 18 months ago I couldn’t even use my right hand. I’m excited to be back here playing, it’s pretty exciting to be honest.”

Sabalenka, on the other hand, is ranked No. 1 on the women’s side and is about to win the U.S. Open title.

“By putting myself in this situation, playing a man, I’m inspiring the next generation (of women) to be great, to challenge themselves, to be strong,” Sabalenka said at a press conference earlier this week.

On social media, fans didn’t seem too impressed with the game.

“I’d love to know who thought #battleofthesexes was a good idea,” said Another user on X. “Who looked really good? The No. 659 player in the men’s tennis rankings ended up beating the No. 1 player in the women’s world with ease, even though the rules were in her favor. What a farce.”

“A big L stands for the ‘men and women alike’ crowd,” one person said. Different accounts on X. “Battle of the Sexes 2025. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. World No. 671 Nick Kyrgios (injured). They even gave her a smaller court. Kyrgios won in straight sets.”

The game used modified rules that limited each player to one serve per point (instead of two). Sabalenka’s court is also nine percent smaller than Kyrgios’s.

“I like to challenge myself and this is a big challenge, especially playing against someone as unpredictable and crazy as Nick,” Sabalenka told reporters before the game. “It’s been a great workout for me and a great message to the girls – I hope they can see how strong and resilient I am by playing against men.”