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Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka successful nan latest "Battle of nan Sexes" tennis lucifer connected Sunday, but tennis fans recovered responsibility pinch nan arena for respective reasons.
The "Battle of nan Sexes" sanction was borrowed from nan historical 1973 lucifer betwixt Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. King won nan lucifer successful 4 consecutive sets and helped motorboat efforts to commencement a female circuit and get adjacent salary successful tennis.
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Nick Kyrgios, left, and Aryna Sabalenka interact astatine nan nett during their Battle of nan Sexes match, successful Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool Photo via AP)
The Kyrgios-Sabalenka lucifer didn’t look to person nan aforesaid taste significance. Kyrgios, who had been sidelined pinch injuries since his 2022 Wimbledon last appearance, faced a disadvantage of Sabalenka’s broadside of nan tribunal being astir 10% smaller successful an effort to level nan playing field. Players were fixed 1 service per point, alternatively than two.
The lucifer appeared to autumn level pinch fans.
Sabalenka, 1 of nan apical players successful women’s tennis, said nan lucifer was bully prep for nan adjacent play arsenic nan Australian Open is conscionable astir nan corner.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios laughter up of their Battle of nan Sexes tennis lucifer successful Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
"Really enjoyed nan show," she said, "and I consciousness for illustration adjacent clip I play him I'm going to cognize nan tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it's going to beryllium a amended match, for sure."
She added, "I don't understand really group were capable to find thing antagonistic successful this event."
Kyrgios acknowledged that he had to "strap in" for nan match, which was held successful Dubai.
"I deliberation this is simply a awesome stepping chromatic for nan athletics of tennis," he said.
Aryna Sabalenka holds her goddaughter adjacent to Nick Kyrgios arsenic they airs pinch trophies aft their Battle of nan Sexes tennis match, successful Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (Amr Alfiky/Pool Photo via AP)
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At nan extremity of nan event, some competitors smiled arsenic they held up trophies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
