Aryna Sabalenka placed on a present, however Nick Kyrgios closed the showdown.
Kyrgios got here again from 1-3 down within the second set defeating Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in right now’s Battle of the Sexes exhibition match on the Coca Cola Area in Dubai.
World No. 1 Sabalenka smiled and danced at instances in the course of the contest, whereas Kyrgios regarded a bit extra pressured however dealt with the stress denying the packed enviornment a possible third-set tiebreaker.
“In fact I used to be nervous. I don’t assume many individuals would put their hand as much as be on this place,” Kyrgios stated. “The scoreline was nearer, I used to be underneath the pump there—I used to be nervous. This was all of the world was speaking about for the previous six months.
“To even get again out right here and play, and play somebody as nice as Aryna is fairly emotional.”
Embed from Getty Photos
Fifty-two years after Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs within the unique Battle of the Sexes showdown on the Houston Astrodome, this exhibition lacked the cultural impression, however nonetheless delivered some leisure worth.
Not like the King vs. Riggs best-of-three-set conflict again in 1973, this was a streamlined Battle of the Sexes format.
It was a best-of-three-set match. Every participant bought just one serve slightly than the standard two serves per level and Sabalenka’s aspect of the courtroom was 9 % smaller in each size and width giving her much less courtroom to cowl and Kyrgios much less house to strike.
Afterward, Sabalenka stated she noticed Kyrgios was tight and tried to make him play.
“I felt nice, I feel I put up a fantastic battle,” Sabalenka stated. “He was struggling, he bought actually tight—and I used to be completely happy to see one of many guys getting tight and getting a win on my serve.
“I feel it was a fantastic stage, I performed a whole lot of nice pictures. Actually loved the present. I really feel like subsequent time, after I play him, I do know the ways, his strengths, his weaknesses, and it’s going to be a greater match for certain.”
