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World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition match in the UAE in December.

Belarus' Sabalenka, twenty-seven, and 30-year-old Aussie Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are scheduled to compete at the Coca-Cola Arena on December 28.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open title-holder.

Kyrgios, who peaked at 13th in 2016, has only played five matches this year since recovering from a significant wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months.

He has not played on the ATP Tour since exiting in the Miami Open second round in March.

"I greatly admire Nick and his talent, but rest assured, I'm ready to bring my best performance," Sabalenka said.

Past Background of Gender Showdowns

A trio of recognized contests known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have taken place – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.

American veteran Riggs had defeated Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback four months later.

In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow multi-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under special rules.

"I deeply admire Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the female tennis," Sabalenka added. "It's an honor to stand for women's tennis and to be part of this contemporary version of the iconic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match."

Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon championship match, expressed he will enjoy the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he has the same representative.

"Being challenged by the top player, you answer the call. I've got massive respect for Aryna; she's a force and a true champion," he remarked. "But I've never shied away from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to entertain. This is what I thrive on."

Harmless Entertainment or Harmful to Women's Sport? – Viewpoint

Followers of the sport have been divided into opposing sides since rumblings of this exhibition started at the US Open in September.

Certain individuals believe it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will successfully attract the attention of a younger demographic in the age of social-media content.

Others believe it is a ill-advised project – organized by the Evolve agency which the players both share – and creates an opportunity for female athletics to be belittled if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios.

The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to attacking an former partner in 2023, then later had to separate himself from divisive figure Andrew Tate in 2024, is a big reason why some critics believe this exhibition could provoke sexism and misogyny.

Sabalenka does not seem to be overly concerned the event will have a detrimental effect on women's sports. Speaking about the possibility at the US Open, she said it was a "interesting concept" and chuckled as she vowed to "defeat Nick convincingly".

It is hard, however, to see what she benefits from the event – particularly if she is defeated to a man who has not been fit for a long time.

For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his continued absence from the tour and constantly in the public eye which he has repeatedly demonstrated he loves to be in.

At this point, details about the format of the match are still scarce – although rules on serves and potential court modifications are believed to have been considered.