Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
"Awaken the misogynists": Kyrgios battle of the sexes "lose-lose"
Abby Crozier • December 12th, 2025 11:39 am
Nick Kyrgios’ 'Battle of the Sexes' “will only awaken the misogynists,” amid suggestions that the Aussie's clash against Aryana Sabalenka is a “meaningless gimmick that will damage women’s sport.”
The match, which will be played in Dubai at the end of December, has drawn widespread criticism, most notably from Billie jean King who played the original showdown against Bobby Riggs in 1973.
King beat self proclaimed chauvinist Riggs 6-4 6-3 6-3, but when asked for her thoughts on the Sabalenka - Kyrgios clash, she said: "The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That's it.
“Everything else, no. Ours was about social change; culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not.
"I hope it's a great match - I want Sabalenka, obviously, to win - but it's just not the same."
The main fear about the December 28 clash is the potential damage it will do to the men's game, a notion totally rejected by Sabalenka.
“It is not about the man being biologically stronger than the woman – this event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level," she said. "Whoever wins, wins.”
SEN's Julian King has outwardly disagreed with Sabalenka’s defence, shutting down her personal “win-win” outlook on the match.
“If Sabalenka loses, I think the women’s tennis game gets belittled," King said. "If she wins, the media will spin it as her beating an injured has-been who’s barely played in two years and ranks 670 odd in the world.
“If she loses – it will just awaken all of the misogynists who claim men’s sport is simply better."
“This Battle of the Sexes between Kyrgios and Sabalenka is a circus act that achieves nothing. Sablaenka is absolutely in a lose-lose situation.”
“Women’s tennis does not need the risk; there is literally no upside to this.”
Sports broadcaster and tennis presenter Catherine Whitaker has shared similar sentiments to King, wherein the two broadcasters are fighting a different sort of battle.
“I see absolutely nothing to be gained for women’s tennis – I see only bleakness.”
“This is a crass commercial venture and a vehicle for one of the most outspoken misogynists in tennis who just wants attention.”
With King taking umbridge at the lose-lose state of the December 28th battle on behalf of women’s sport, the fallout of the gender-based ramifications for the female game could be significant.
