Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Not many men would take up the chance to face a top women’s tennis player, believes Nick Kyrgios as he prepares to face World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match later this month.
The Australian will face the top-ranked Belarusian in Dubai on December 28 in a modern edition of the famous match when Billie Jean King defeated the 55-year-old former Grand Slam champion Bobby Riggs in a similar showdown in 1973.
Though Kyrgios is an active players on the men’s circuit unlike Riggs, he was a bit nervous as he has played only five professional matches in 2025 due to injuries that have dogged his career.
"I think my chances are really high. I'm very confident in my ability," he said in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
"It's going to be fun, but also I'm a bit nervous. I like doing things that are outside the box. Honestly, not many males in my position would have done that and taken the opportunity."
In September, the former world number 13 had said that women can’t return men's serves and predicted beating Sabalenka without even requiring to give his all on the court but hoped the match would increase respect between the men's and women's game.
Earlier this month, Sabalenka said men were "biologically stronger" than women and expected the match to uplift women's tennis to a higher level.
The controversial Kyrgios wasn’t unsure how the Dubai event would shape up.
"I don't know what's going to happen, we'll see. I've been in a lot of controversies in my whole career and this is another thing I get to experience," he added.
