Nick Kyrgios prevailed in the 2025 edition of tennis’ Battle of the Sexes exhibition, defeating world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena on Friday. The match leaned heavily on entertainment, but the result still highlighted Kyrgios’ superior control in key moments.
The contest was staged on a slightly modified court, with Sabalenka’s half reduced by close to 10% to narrow the physical disparity. Both players were limited to a single serve per point, a tweak that removed the usual second-serve safety net. Despite the experimental rules, Kyrgios struck cleaner in rallies, dictating tempo and finding lines with precision. Sabalenka, while competitive, was forced into riskier shot-making and couldn’t build sustained pressure.
The match carried a light-hearted tone from the outset. Under-arm serves, exaggerated grunts and playful exchanges punctuated the evening. Sabalenka even used a break in play to dance near the baseline, drawing cheers from a 17,000-strong crowd. Premium tickets reportedly neared the $800 mark, underlining the commercial appeal of the event, which was organised by the Evolve agency, representing both athletes.
Kyrgios clinched the win on his third match point, visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat, but smiling as he embraced Sabalenka at the net. Members from both camps described the contest internally as a showpiece aimed at energising younger audiences rather than making a social statement.
Sabalenka’s team later indicated she saw the match as valuable preparation for the upcoming season. She conveyed confidence that a rematch would bring sharper tactical clarity and a more competitive contest, openly signalling her intent to “turn the tables next time.”
Battle of Sexes 2025: Format
The Battle of the Sexes 2025 exhibition will feature a modified format aimed at creating a tighter and more competitive contest. Unlike the traditional two-serve system, both players will have only one serve per point, removing the safety net of a second delivery and placing a premium on precision, placement and decision-making. Earlier discussions had indicated the one-serve rule might apply only to Kyrgios, but organisers later confirmed the adjustment will be uniform for both players.
To account for the natural speed differential between the men’s and women’s games, the court on Aryna Sabalenka’s side will be reduced by 9%, subtly shortening the coverage area while keeping standard dimensions intact on Kyrgios’ half. This tweak is intended to reward shot-making and rallies without altering the core structure of play.
The match will follow a best-of-three sets model. If both players split the first two sets, the winner will be decided by a 10-point match tie-break, ensuring a clear result while keeping the exhibition sharp, fast-paced and viewer-friendly.
Battle of Sexes 2025: How much prize money will the winner get?
As of the latest available information, the organisers of the Battle of the Sexes 2025 exhibition match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios have not publicly disclosed specific prize money details, including how much the winner will receive. According to reports, the financial terms of the event, including payouts, are being kept private and have not been shared with the media or fans.
In contrast, past Battle of the Sexes exhibitions (such as the historic 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs) were winner-takes-all with a known payout (King received $100,000 for her victory), but there is no confirmed equivalent figure announced for this 2025 event.
Battle of Sexes 2025: Former winner reacts to the latest match-up
Billie Jean King, part of the most iconic and only Battle of the Sexes match in tennis history before 2025, reacted to the Sabalenka–Kyrgios exhibition by making it clear that the two events stand far apart in intent and meaning. When asked about similarities, King was quoted by BBC Sport as saying that the only common point was simply that one player was male and the other female, and nothing beyond that.
King emphasised that her 1973 contest against Bobby Riggs carried deep cultural and political weight and was driven by the need for social change, unlike the 2025 match-up. She was also quoted as recalling that her match was played in a best-of-five format, on a standard court with no rule or size adjustments, because she had insisted on playing without any modifications or conditions.
She was further quoted as stating that the pressure to win in 1973 went far beyond sport, as she had felt responsible for the impact the result would have on societal attitudes. King, now 82, was also quoted as adding that her motivation to win had included strong political and cultural reasons tied to the era, and that victory had felt necessary to influence change at a broader level.