World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios are reportedly planning to play a “Battle of the Sexes” match in January 2026.
The original “Battle of the Sexes” match was on September 20, 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. It was a monumental moment in social change, tennis, and women’s sports history as King defeated Riggs. It was the basis for the 2017 feature movie of the same title starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell.
Billie Jean King reflects on the legacy of the Battle Of The Sexes tennis match between her and Bobby Riggs: “The women got a lot more self-confidence from that. And the men will come up to me, much more reflective.” pic.twitter.com/VGNjxKKVDz
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 28, 2024
What We Know About The 2026 Match
The details have not yet been revealed. Kyrgios talked about it to puntodebreak.com.
According to the translation, he believes he can easily win without playing 100% and predicts the final score to be 6-2.
Kyrgios has barely played in recent years because of a wrist injury that required a long recovery and flares up when he tries to play.
Fans have not seen much of him since the 2025 Miami Open as he has withdrawn from events on a regular basis since.
As for Sabalenka, she is into the US Open quarterfinals. She has made the semifinals or finals of every Grand Slam since winning last year’s US Open.
Her powerful serve and ground strokes should make Kyrgios rethink his prediction.
🚨 Nick Kyrgios on the upcoming “Battle of the Sexes” against Aryna Sabalenka:
“She isn’t going to beat me. Do you really think I have to try 100%? <> But I’m gonna try, I’ll be focused. I’m representing the men’s side. I’d say 6–2 maybe.”
📍 Should take place in 🇭🇰 Hong Kong… pic.twitter.com/SYFpsPSYr8
— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) September 2, 2025
The “Battle of the Sexes” will happen in Hong Kong in January 2026.
In an interview with Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik expresses his doubts about Kyrgios’s effort and ability to beat Sabalenka. Bublik said he would not have selected Kyrgios to represent the men.
