Aryna Sabelenka guarantees full confidence. Nick Kyrgios affords uncertainty.
In that sense, it is going to be enterprise as traditional when Sabalenka faces Kyrgios in an up to date “Battle of the Sexes” match Sunday at Dubai.
As soon as warmups are full, although, it is going to be something goes.
“This occasion is absolutely unpredictable,” Sabalenka, 27, mentioned Saturday. “I do not know what to anticipate and that is what I like as a result of that is the sensation that you simply chase if you play sport.”
Kyrgios guarantees comparable chaos, which is hardly a shock, given his persona.
“If you recognize me, you understand how unpredictable I’m, however I am as nicely ready as I probably could possibly be,” Kyrgios, 30, mentioned. “I really feel like I’ll win.”
Within the matchup between good mates, Sabalenka is coming off a yr during which the Belarus native received her second consecutive U.S. Open ladies’s title and the fourth grand slam title of her profession. Kyrgios is attempting to bounce again from accidents that restricted him to 5 singles matches in 2025.
Greater than give attention to the lady vs. man side to the match, each try to advertise the must-see aspect for his or her sport.
“It is nice coaching for me and an ideal message to the women on the market — I hope they may see how sturdy and hard I’m by enjoying towards a man,” Sabalenka mentioned.
The match additionally will function a tuneup for Kyrgios’ comeback from ankle and knee points lately. The Australia native is ready to play within the upcoming Brisbane Worldwide as a wild-card entry.
As soon as No. 13 on the planet in 2016, Kyrgios enters the brand new season ranked No. 673. Sabalenka is No. 1 within the ladies’s rankings.
“I have never received a grand slam (title) however I’ve walked out in a grand slam last,” mentioned Kyrgios, who misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the 2022 Wimbledon last. “That is one thing utterly totally different, I do not know the way my physique or my thoughts will react.
“It is a utterly totally different vitality. I’ll deliver one thing totally different, for positive. My energy has at all times been my unpredictability, even on the lads’s tour.”
A battle-of-the-sexes type match has been contested 3 times prior to now. There have been two in 1973 when Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Courtroom 6-2, 6-1 and Billie Jean King topped Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. In 1992, Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova 7-6, 6-2.
In the course of the Dubai match, Sabalenka’s aspect of the courtroom might be 9% smaller, with each gamers restricted to 1 serve.
–Discipline Stage Media
