Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios – Battle of the Sexes RECAP

Thank you for joining us for what can only be described as a unique event in Dubai.

Nick Kyrgios certainly broke a sweat – he was completely drenched – in a concerning indication of his fitness as he builds towards a return at the Australian Open.

But it was never really a close contest, with the Aussie running out 6-3, 6-3 victor.

Will there be another chapter? The pair seemingly indicated there’s more to come in this ‘Battle of the Sexes’ rivalry.

We’ll be here for it, should it come. Until next time, good night!

… why not have a sift through our report, taking in all the controversy – and technical issues both on and off the court.

A real highlight, honestly.

As preparations go, Sabalenka couldn’t have a better run-up before jetting to Brisbane to defend her Brisbane International title. Playing a tricky opponent with far greater power, she looked fit, firing, and loose.

Kyrgios, however, looked far from comfortable with the tempo of match play. He has a wildcard for Brisbane, but his attendance at next year’s Australian Open is not yet confirmed. He certainly won’t be crying out for five-set tennis in the Melbourne heat…

It was a really tough match. she’s a hell of a competitor, and such a great champion. I didn’t really know what to expect, and whatever role I was to play, this was another opportunity to go out and play.

She broke my serve numerous times, she was putting the pressure on, hitting some amazing shots. I would love to play her again.

Ultimately, it was a really hard-fought battle. I wouldn’t call myself the champion tonight. I think this is a great stepping-stone forward for the sport of tennis.

Of course I was nervous. I don’t think many people would put their hand up to be in this position. The scoreline was closer, I was under the pump there – I was nervous. This was all the world was talking about for the past six months.

To even get back out here and play, and play someone as great as Aryna is pretty emotional.

Considering I took away one of her strengths, her first serve, she’s an incredible athlete. The gap is closer – I’m not surprised. It could have gone either way. I’m not even joking.

I felt great, I think I put up a great fight. he was struggling, he got really tight – and I was happy to see one of the guys getting tight and getting a win on my serve.

I think it was a great level, I played a lot of great shots. Really enjoyed the show. I feel like next time, when I play him, I know the tactics, his strengths, his weaknesses, and it’s going to be a better match for sure.

So, it’ll happen again?

I love rematches, and I like to challenge myself. I would love to play again.

On the entrance:

I had a little different idea, a better idea, but we didn’t have enough time. But I think it was fun, and I like to do crazy stuff. I wish we could do it more often, during the season.

I, for one, will choose to believe she merely struggle to source a Cleopatra-style litter to ape BJK.

If this was pure entertainment, as both players were keen to stress – why wasn’t Kyrgios in better humour? Sabalenka showed no lack of effort but had the charm to shimmy, shake and Macarena her way to defeat with no drop in quality.

Kyrgios, by contrast, sweated and junked his way through the ultimately winnable contest, that everyone thought he was going to win, and few would have begrudged Sabalenka the loss.

The Australian’s mostly missing smile, I must say, doesn’t scream ‘for fun’.

Kyrgios is in no mood to give the crowd any more entertainment in a third-set match tiebreak, and goes about his business in the final set with some ruthlessness.

A zinging serve at 30-15 is so wild that Sabalenka hits it into the stands, setting up two match points.

But not before time! Kyrgios doesn’t expect Sabalenka’s intense return and doesn’t move for it…

He then calls for a timeout, but does not in fact, do the Macarena.

Second match point: and he fluffs it! Sabalenka feasts on his serve with expansive groundstrokes, and Kyrgios can only funk his return into the net. It’s deuce now.

A nice bit of serve and volley goes Kyrgios’ way, handing him the advantage – but Sabalenka snaffles that too, with a formidable sprinting one-handed backhand that buries itself out of Kyrgios’ grasp.

One more advantage does it, however, and Sabalenka wafts his serve away and well out.

Again, Sabalenka pulls herself up to tap Kyrgios on the shoulder at deuce after a shakier start to her serve. But this time, it’s Kyrgios who has the luck with the net-cord, and wins the advantage.

If I could take it back, I would!

… he adds gallantly.

He cannot, and she hits long, so he wraps up the game.

Kyrgios has acclimatised well and after momentum appeared to be firmly with the Belarusian in this set, he has wrenched it back with some thoroughly awkward and challenging tennis.

He pulls off the hold, and steps into the lead.

At 15-40, Sabalenka unleashes a straight-down-the-line backhand winner, but she is quickly broken after sending a too-sharply angled backhand towards Kyrgios.

He could get it, but he doesn’t have to. All level now in the second set. The curse of the Macarena? (I hope not).

Kyrgios’ old faithful, the underarm serve, isn’t troubling the Belarusian, but at 30-all, it’s Sabalenka who calls for the timeout.

But… is it for rest? No, it’s for the Macarena!

Honestly, this is the energy required to get through this.

However, whether it ends up as an act of extreme hubris… we’ll see.

Too much Macarena!

… says Kyrgios, which is a little stern for the architect of a match which should aspire to the cultural significance of such an important dance craze.

Anyway, back to tennis. It’s deuce now, and Kyrgios gets the advantage pouncing on a too-high ball from Sabalenka that he can really smack.

A sneaky round the net return from Kyrgios confirms his hold.

As they head back to the seats, a man heads out onto court to throw signed tennis balls into the crowd. Strange that they have condensed all the hijinks into one slightly random game.