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Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will face Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates in December.

The Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, and thirty-year-old Australian Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are scheduled to compete at the Coca-Cola Arena on 28 December.

Four-times Grand Slam champion Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open champion.

Kyrgios, who peaked at world number 13 in 2016, has only played five matches this year since returning from a significant wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months.

He has not played on the ATP Tour since exiting in the Miami Open second round in March.

"I have a lot of respect for Nick and his skill, but make no mistake, I'm prepared to bring my A-game," Sabalenka said.

Past Background of ‘Battle of the Sexes’

Three official matches labeled as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have occurred – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.

American veteran Riggs had defeated Australia's Margaret Court before King got payback a few months after.

In 1992, a 40-year-old Jimmy Connors overcame fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under special rules.

"I deeply admire Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the female tennis," Sabalenka continued. "It's an honor to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the legendary ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match."

Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final, said he will relish the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he has the same representative.

"When the world number one challenges you, you answer the call. I've got great admiration for Aryna; she's a force and a genuine winner," he said. "However I've never shied away from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to entertain. This is what I thrive on."

Harmless Entertainment or Harmful to Female Athletics? – Analysis

Followers of the sport have been split into two camps since rumblings of this exhibition began at the US Open in September.

Some think it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will successfully attract the attention of a younger demographic in the age of social-media content.

Another group feels it is a ill-advised project – arranged by the Evolve management which the players both share – and creates an opportunity for women's sport to be undermined if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios.

The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting an former partner in 2023, then later had to separate himself from controversial influencer Andrew Tate in 2024, is a key factor why that camp believe this exhibition could provoke gender bias and misogyny.

Sabalenka does not seem to be overly concerned the event will have a negative impact on women's sports. Speaking about the possibility at the US Open, she said it was a "cool idea" and laughed as she vowed to "defeat Nick convincingly".

It is hard, however, to see what she benefits from the event – especially if she is defeated to a man who has not been in top form for a long time.

For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his continued absence from the tour and firmly in the spotlight which he has consistently shown he enjoys.

At this stage, specifics about the format of the match are still scarce – although serving restrictions and potential court modifications are believed to have been discussed.