The gender showdown lost in reputation as Sabalenka was revealed to have received a seven-figure appearance fee, while Wang Xiyu gained indirect fame.

The gender battle featuring Sabalenka and Kyrgios either made a significant profit or a loss; some directly stated that the box office was very successful, but the public opinion was somewhat unfavorable.

Following Sabalenka’s 3-6, 3-6 defeat to Kyrgios, ESPN quickly revealed the total earnings from the gender battle: including ticket sales, sponsorship, and broadcast rights, the revenue was approximately $7 million, but no less than $5 million.

Because the hype before the gender match was exceptionally high due to various topics, the fact that Sabalenka and Kyrgios finished in about 70 minutes disappointed many who wanted to watch a decisive tiebreak. This revenue is considered astronomical, as it equates to earning 500,000 to 700,000 RMB per minute—an extremely rare and highly profitable business in tennis.

To be precise, in terms of promotion and the enthusiasm of fans and netizens, this gender battle was undeniably a huge success. The venue was packed, even football superstar Ronaldo was drawn to watch, highlighting its influence.

However, after the match, commentators expressed that the game seemed somewhat unworthy of such high box office earnings because it fell short of the pre-match hype.

Even ESPN and BBC gave low ratings to this gender battle; ESPN regarded it as a very ordinary exhibition match, far from a true gender showdown, while BBC emphasized that the intensity and excitement were disappointing, more like a friendly game.

Some fans and netizens were even more blunt and harsh, saying, "A match like this doesn’t deserve such a high box office at all."

After the negative reviews came out, supporters of Sabalenka and Kyrgios felt helpless. From their perspective, the Belarusian player had given her all, even performing a dance during the match, and her theatrical fall was entertaining; good shots also appeared frequently, so how could the reputation be poor?

In fact, a tennis veteran revealed the real reason why the gender battle won the box office but lost reputation: it wasn’t a proper competitive match like official tours. The court was smaller for Sabalenka and she had only one serve attempt, turning it into a complete exhibition. What the audience really wanted to see was whether a woman could beat a man in a real fight and how big the gender gap truly was, not an event diluted by entertainment.

When the reputation issue of the gender battle sparked controversy, the media quickly exposed Sabalenka’s appearance fee.

Especially when the figure of no less than seven figures in US dollars was revealed, some fans and netizens joked about Sabalenka, saying, "No wonder she put so much effort into her hip twists; if someone gave me even a fraction of her fee, I’d happily twist my waist and lie down for a month."

It can be said that the real star who ignited this gender battle’s popularity was Sabalenka. Her ability to create buzz, and her deliberate use of the phrase "love revenge" after the match to generate more traffic, made the winning Kyrgios a marginal figure.

However, the true winners of this gender battle were not just Sabalenka but also Wang Xiyu, who gained indirect fame.

As a commentator on a certain platform, once Wang Xiyu was confirmed as the gender battle’s announcer, many people became very interested. Some even questioned whether Wang, who seemed shy and introverted, was really suited to be a commentator.

But once Wang started speaking, she amazed many!

“Sabalenka’s first serve landed inside, Kyrgios anticipated half a step early, and with a backhand redirect, scored directly.” When this sentence floated out of Wang Xiyu, dressed in a suit, the screen immediately filled with comments like “professional.” It was clear that Wang’s expert breakdown of player tactics instantly won over many fans and netizens.

After the match, some praised Wang Xiyu, saying they loved her commentary style, which was free of clichés and fully professional.

Following her unexpected rise to fame as a gender battle commentator, another new identity of Wang Xiyu was dug up by netizens.

According to insiders, Wang Xiyu has signed with the video platform as their dedicated tennis commentator. The platform showed great sincerity during negotiations, requiring Wang to prioritize matches and come to the studio during breaks.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Starry Sky)