"How big is the skill gap in the 'gender battle'? Kyrgios decisively defeats Sabalenka"

On December 28 local time, the much-anticipated "gender battle" between women's world No.1 Sabalenka and former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios unfolded in Dubai, where Kyrgios won in straight sets. The match was played under unique conditions: Sabalenka's half of the court was shrunk by almost 10%, and each point allowed only one serve for both sides.

Both players broke each other's serve twice in the first set, after which Kyrgios won three consecutive games to take the set. Despite being broken in the second set, Kyrgios staged a comeback and ultimately secured victory with a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline. However, Kyrgios noted after the match that the contest was more competitive than the score suggested.

"Tonight’s match was truly a landmark event in tennis and a significant step forward for the sport," Kyrgios admitted he was very nervous before the match. "The past six months, the whole world has been talking about this match. Looking back a year and a half, even two years ago, I was sidelined due to injury, unable to even use my right hand properly. Now, being able to return to the court and compete against a top player like Aryna (Sabalenka) is incredibly moving."

"I think the level of play was very high, and it certainly wasn’t an easy match for him," Sabalenka commented after the match. "I really enjoyed this exhibition and learning about his strengths and weaknesses means our next match will definitely be even better. Maybe sometime in the future we can face off again—I love challenging myself and really look forward to playing him once more."

It’s worth noting that both Sabalenka and Kyrgios are represented by the Evolve agency, which also organized this exhibition match. According to The Independent, nearly 6,000 tickets were almost sold out, with prices ranging from £100 for upper-tier seats to over £600 for courtside spots.

While the exhibition between Sabalenka and Kyrgios generated significant buzz, it also faced considerable criticism. Since the announcement of this event, debates about the necessity of such matches have persisted. Historically, "gender battles" were initiated to promote equal pay and competitive opportunities for men and women in tennis. Billie Jean King, who famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes," stated that her match was fought to drive social change, but she believes this principle does not apply to the Sabalenka-Kyrgios contest.

Responding to some criticism, Sabalenka said after the match: "Honestly, I don’t quite understand the negative reactions people have had about this match. For the WTA, I showed that I can play good tennis, and it was an entertaining match. Of course, he won, but I didn’t lose 0-6, 0-6. It was fun and brought more attention to tennis. Many legends came to watch, and some big names privately messaged me, hoping I would perform well and said they would follow the match through various channels. So, I believe we brought more focus to the sport. I don’t see from any angle why this should be viewed negatively."

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, images courtesy of Visual China)