‘It was never about proving anything’: Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on Nick Kyrgios match criticism | Tennis News
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has pushed back against the criticism surrounding her much-debated “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios, saying the negative reaction left her feeling “sad” and misunderstood. The Belarusian, who lost 6-3, 6-3 to Kyrgios in the high-profile Dubai exhibition in late December, addressed the controversy while speaking at the season-opening Brisbane International on Tuesday. The event drew widespread attention but also sparked questions about its purpose, with critics suggesting it was driven more by money and broadcast appeal than sporting value. The match was organised by the agency that represents both players. “What I’m sad about is that some people got it wrong, the whole idea of that event,” Sabalenka said. She insisted the exhibition was never meant to prove a point or settle a gender debate, but rather to showcase tennis in a different light. “It was fun. It was a great challenge. I think we brought so many eyes on tennis,” she added. “It wasn’t about proving something to anyone.” Sabalenka explained that the intention was to demonstrate the sport’s ability to attract attention beyond traditional formats. “It was about to show that tennis can be really huge and we can bring a lot of attention on the exhibition match, which usually never happen, and we just proved that. That’s all it was about,” she said. Not everyone in the women’s game shared that view. World number two Iga Swiatek questioned the need for such an event, saying on Saturday that women’s tennis did not require a crossover spectacle to validate itself “because I feel like women’s tennis stands on its own right now”. The choice of Kyrgios as Sabalenka’s opponent also fuelled debate. The Australian has previously admitted to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2021 and has, in the past, been forced to distance himself from misogynistic comments, adding another layer of controversy to the exhibition. Held on December 28, the match featured modified rules designed to offset physical differences between the players, but it drew inevitable comparisons to the original and iconic 1973 Battle of the Sexes. That historic encounter, between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, carried far greater significance. At the time, the women’s professional tour founded by King was fighting for recognition, equal prize money and legitimacy. King, then at the peak of her career, defeated the 55-year-old Riggs in straight sets, creating a defining moment in sporting and social history.
