“Do you really think I have to try 100 per cent?”
“I’ll try my best to kick his ass.”
And so the war of words begins between modern-day tennis stars Nick Kyrgios – quote one – and Aryna Sabalenka – quote two – in a proposed Battle of the Sexes exhibition match in Hong Kong, China, in January 2026.
In a repeat of the much hyped first edition that took place in 1973, when Billie Jean King beat a mouthy Bobby Riggs in a playful yet point-proving showdown, the duo have already resorted to the rapid-fire quips for which they are both renowned.
“Women can’t return our serves… I think I’ll be fine, maybe 6-2 to me,” said Kyrgios, the Wimbledon men’s finalist from 2022.
“Sabalenka is awesome, she’s such a character,” continued the Australian on the Tea with Bublik podcast. “I think she’s the type of player who genuinely believes she’s going to win.”
Sabalenka, meanwhile, a four-time Grand Slam champion, concluded: “I think it’s a cool idea and will be spectacular to watch.
“Like he said in another interview, I genuinely think that I’m going to win.”
The original match at the Houston Astrodome proved a zeitgeist moment with King’s three-set victory bringing attention and credibility to women’s tennis – a global TV audience of an estimated 90 million people watched the match – and propelled the subsequent establishment of the Women’s Tennis Association during an important moment for gender equality.
The stakes aren’t quite as high for the 2026 edition, but the showdown between the World No. 1 women’s player and the former men’s World No. 13 should provide an interesting and entertaining dynamic.
Whether the match will happen is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s for sure, the ball’s in their court.