The gender battle has concluded, with the Aussie "bad boy" teased that he no longer needs to retire, while Sabalenka expressed her desire for revenge and a rematch.

When Kyrgios sealed this widely watched gender clash with two straightforward 6-3 sets, he utterly destroyed Sabalenka’s confidence before the match.

Although the women’s singles world No.1 Sabalenka was confident about beating Kyrgios, the bookmakers’ vastly different odds—7 to 1 for the Belarusian and 4 to 1 for the Aussie bad boy—suggested that despite the special rules favoring Sabalenka, many believed this match’s outcome was a foregone conclusion, with the Aussie bad boy expected to win easily.

Many of Kyrgios’s supporters openly stated that previous gender battles involving players like Connors and the Williams sisters showed how difficult it is for women to defeat men. Whether one admits it or not, physiological differences between men and women mean that in any type of match, as long as the male player is serious, it’s very hard for the female player to win. Sabalenka, hailed as the fierce queen of tennis and the new WTA hardcourt queen, was no exception.

After this gender battle lasting 70 minutes ended, the reality matched the predictions of Kyrgios’s fans and bookmakers alike: the Aussie bad boy, ranked outside the top 600, easily defeated the current women’s world No.1 without any pressure, and the final score was the best proof.

After seeing Kyrgios beat Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3, many fans and netizens joked that the Aussie bad boy no longer needs to worry about retiring early, saying, "Next time, better not make bets about retiring if you lose, it scared him so much he couldn’t sleep for days."

Following the conclusion of this gender battle, another voice quickly emerged in public opinion, with some bluntly stating that if this wasn’t an exhibition match, Sabalenka would probably have lost by an even more embarrassing scoreline.

Their reasoning was that since Kyrgios was able to break Sabalenka’s serve so easily, it showed the Aussie bad boy hadn’t given his all and was likely holding back.

“Considering he’s been under restrictions and away from the court for so long, for Kyrgios to play so smoothly and win so effortlessly, if he got serious, even a top player like Shapovalov would probably be steamrolled.” Some outside observers believe Kyrgios didn’t go all out against Sabalenka because they are managed by the same agency; despite his rough nature, Kyrgios wouldn’t resort to violence against his junior teammate Sabalenka on court, as he wouldn’t want to disrupt harmony and stability. The Aussie bad boy wouldn’t do that.

Contrary to the nearly unanimous external opinion that Kyrgios’s skill was enough to easily overpower Sabalenka and that he played the entire match effortlessly, the Belarusian responded with humor, saying, “He struggled a lot and was clearly nervous. Seeing him tense up when I took away one of his service advantages actually made me feel quite reassured.”

Furthermore, regarding claims that this gender battle was just a gimmick or a typical exhibition match, both Sabalenka and Kyrgios indirectly denied that after the match.

“The level of the match was very high. I made many impressive shots and frequently approached the net aggressively. Nick’s drop shots were excellent, and his serving was top-notch.” Sabalenka’s words emphasized that there was nothing theatrical about this gender battle; both she and Kyrgios took it seriously and competed fiercely.

Kyrgios also indirectly stressed that the so-called gimmick was just a perception held by some outsiders, but the reality was different: “Tonight’s match was truly a feast and a stepping stone for tennis.”

When asked about his personal feelings on the match, Kyrgios admitted the score didn’t fully reflect how tough the contest was: “This match has been talked about worldwide for the past six months. Honestly, it was extremely challenging. She’s an incredible player and a great champion.”

From the moment this gender battle was announced and became a focal point, to Sabalenka’s confidence in defeating Kyrgios, and finally being swept in two sets, she openly stated after the match that she hopes for a rematch, saying, “I love the feeling of revenge and enjoy challenging myself.”

After the Belarusian’s statement, many fans and netizens were puzzled, saying she lost so badly, why would she want to be swept again? But soon others replied that through this gender battle trial, Sabalenka has developed tactics to handle Kyrgios, clearly understands his weaknesses and strengths, and feels more confident about beating him.

Judging by Sabalenka’s post-match fighting spirit and related remarks, it is likely that her next gender battle with Kyrgios will soon be scheduled by their agency. If they meet again, will the result differ from this time? It’s something to eagerly anticipate!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)