Why Women’s Tennis Can’t Win Sabalenka Vs Kyrgios Battle Of The Sexes

Before Aryna Sabalenka takes the court against Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition called the “Battle of the Sexes,” women’s tennis already lost. By agreeing to play the ATP Tour’s part-time player and full-time bad boy, Sabalenka is making a mockery women’s tennis and minimizing fundamental inequities.

The Battle of the Sexes match is December 28, in Dubai. Evolve, the agency co-founded by Naomi Osaka and that represents Sabalenka and Kyrgios, is promoting the event. Osaka co-founding an agency that represents top players reflects women’s empowerment in sports more than this sham slam.

“No one gives a f— about what’s happening with Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios,” said former WTA Player and tennis commentator Rennae Stubbs on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. “I mean, the only reason they’re putting this on is because it is literally their company Evolve, who’s a sponsor, who’s their management company. . . But what is in this for women’s tennis?”

The lead-up has been mostly fun and games, with Sabalenka stating she wants to “kick Nick’s a–.” But by calling it the battle of the sexes, organizers evoke memories of the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, an event with social and historical significance.

Why Original Tennis Battle Of The Sexes Meant More

In the original “Battle of the Sexes,” Riggs, a former No. 1-ranked player and winner of three Wimbledon titles, was 55. King was 29.

King defeated Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. The match was held at the Houston Astrodome and televised on ABC, with legendary sports commentator Howard Cosell as host. Ninety million people watched worldwide, including 50 million in the U.S.

When Riggs first challenged King, she declined. Margaret Court took him up on his offer. Court was 30 and returning to tennis after giving birth to her first child. Riggs defeated Court 6-2, 6-1 and the match was dubbed the “Mother’s Day Massacre.”

Riggs took a victory lap, which included the cover of Sports Illustrated and various television appearances.

King sought to redeem women’s tennis and agreed to play Riggs. However, she worried that a loss would do more harm than good.

“I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match. It would ruin the women’s tour and affect all women’s self-esteem,” King said in an interview with ESPN.

Back then, women tennis players were paid barely above the level of amateurs. Some made $1,500 for winning tournaments. Meanwhile, their male counterparts were taking home $12,000. One of the reasons Court played Riggs was that she was guaranteed $20,000, more than she earned for winning a Grand Slam.

King’s efforts to bring respect to women’s tennis echoed the broader women’s rights movement. The 1970s saw landmark legislation, including Title IX in 1972 and Roe v. Wade in 1973.

A movie about the King vs. Riggs match came out in 2017, starring Emma Stone as King and Steve Carell as Riggs. King said the Battle of the Sexes still mattered because pay equity had yet to be achieved.

Sabalenka and Kyrgios trash-talking via social media trivializes the impact of the original Battle of the Sexes.

Caitlin Thompson, co-founder of Racquet Magazine and co-host of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, called the organizers cynical, irresponsible and callous.

Why Kyrgios Is An Unworthy Opponent For Sabalenka

Although Riggs was retired and older, he had a championship resume. Not only was he a former No. 1, but Riggs had also already been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Kyrgios is an often-injured part-time player with a history of making sexist remarks about professional female tennis players. His bad-boy behavior garners more attention than his tennis.

Sabalenka, who has had to apologize for poor sportsmanship, does herself no favors by playing Kyrgios in a so-called battle of the sexes.

Kyrgios is talented. He reached a Wimbledon final. But he’s become more caricature than competitor. His antics include joining OnlyFans and promising that tennis balls would be involved. He’s been accused of tanking during matches. In 2023, Kyrgios pleaded guilty to one count of assault, involving pushing his ex-girlfriend. Despite Kyrgios’ guilty plea, a magistrate dismissed the charges.

Beyond name recognition, Kyrgios offers little. Meanwhile, tennis commentators and former players are skeptical about whether the match is worth watching.

“I’m excited for it. My only issue is I don’t trust Nick to try,” said former ATP Player Sam Querrey, during a podcast “Nothing Major,” with Steve Johnson and Jack Sock. “I would love Nick to just play a normal match, two out of three serves, normal court, and just like Nick, try as hard as you can. Let’s see what happens. There’s zero chance that happens with Nick.”

Johnson called the event ridiculous.

“If they’re going to play, just play all out. If not, I’m just saying I think this whole thing is ridiculous. There’s no need to do it,” said Johnson. “We’re going to get nowhere with this, especially if you’re going to change serves, parameters, courts. The effort from Nick is always going to be a question mark and that’s it. I don’t know, like I’m not going to watch a second of it to be honest.”

Real Battles In Women’s Tennis

The match distracts from the real inequities in men’s and women’s tennis. Yes, women’s tennis has made significant strides since the 1970s. However, women still trail men in prize money.

Many 1,000-level events, like the Cincinnati Open and the Italian Open, pay women less than half what men earn, despite sharing a venue and both playing best-of-three sets.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have made more career prize money than Venus Williams. Novak Djokovic has earned more career prize money than Venus and Serena combined, and they played doubles.

The WTA is committed to equal prize money and, in 2023, promised to match the ATP’s prize money by 2033. That’s nearly a decade away. Why waste time on this gimmick, especially while complaining about lengthy seasons?

In an interview on Sky Sports Tennis, Laura Robson, former British No. 1, couldn’t see an upside for Sabalenka.

“I’m interested to hear what the appeal is for Aryna. I’m not sure this is what the game is missing,” Robson said.

The WTA and ATP are separate entities that complement each other. The value of women’s tennis is measured in the quality of play, not in whether Steffi Graf could defeat John Isner. Men are bigger and stronger. Isner could ace Graf all day. That doesn’t make him a better tennis player.

If Sabalenka wins, critics can point to rules rigged in her favor. If she loses, women’s tennis takes the L. This event is not a battle of the sexes. It’s a lose-lose situation for women’s tennis.