Turin, 28 December (LaPresse) – Nick Kyrgios won the “battle of the sexes” against the number one female player Aryna Sabalenka, who lost the exhibition match played at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai in two sets, with a score of 6-3, 6-3. The most famous challenge on a tennis court between a man and a woman dates back to 1973, when Billie Jean King, then 29 years old and with 10 Slam titles already under her belt, defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, winner of the US Open and Wimbledon during his career. The 2025 “remake” of the “battle of the sexes” was played with special rules: Sabalenka's court was shortened by 9% compared to Kyrgios's “to reflect the average differences in movement speed between men and women”. There was also no second serve.
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