Almost 52 years ago, one sporting event changed Billie Jean King’s life. On the evening of September 20, 1973, tennis star King took on a hustler and self-described “male chauvinist pig,” Bobby Riggs, in a massive spectacle in the Houston Astrodome, televised live on ABC. That’s exactly when the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ became popular in the tennis world. It describes various exhibition matches played between a man and a woman, or a doubles match between two men and two women, in one case. King won that match in three sets, and now it’s time for Aryna Sabalenka to hold on to that legacy!

Billie Jean King’s win is considered a milestone in public acceptance of women’s tennis. Later on, while sharing her thoughts on this historic match, King said, “No matter how many matches I won in my long career, the Battle of the Sexes stands out not only for its fame but also for its instructiveness. That match taught me more than I could have ever believed.” The match was viewed by an estimated 50 million people in the US and 90 million worldwide. Two other matches, commonly referred to as a ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ include one held four months before King’s match between Riggs and Margaret Court, and in 1992 Martina Navratilova took on Jimmy Connors.

In these three matches, only King got the better of the male opponent. Is it now time for Aryna Sabalenka to repeat the same, as she’s all set to take on Aussie star Nick Kyrgios in a similar contest? Sabalenka has never been one to hold back her emotions, and now, she’s taking the same fearless energy into one of tennis’s most entertaining spectacles—the ‘Battle of the Sexes.’ With her trademark fire, the reigning WTA powerhouse has thrown down the gauntlet at Kyrgios, promising nothing less than an all-out fight. Her words?

Speaking with motivational speaker and host Jay Shetty in his podcast, Aryna Sabalenka said she’s very excited about this challenge. When asked what really inspired her to take part in this match, she said, “Well, since we're fighting for equal prize money, I believe that's the reason. No, but mostly just I think it's fun and it's cool to see and it's interesting for me to play against the man and I'm ready to kick his a--.”

The bold declaration isn’t just about mind games. Aryna Sabalenka will be carrying the torch of the 52-year-old legacy, harking back to the original 1973 Battle of the Sexes clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. That iconic showdown wasn’t just a tennis match—it was a cultural turning point, spotlighting equality and the strength of women in sport. So, King’s emphatic victory remains one of tennis’ most enduring statements, and Sabalenka is determined to honor it in her own fiery fashion.

When Shetty encouraged her to send a message to Nick Kyrgios, she yet again repeated, “Well, Nick, you got to be ready. You better be ready. And yeah, I’m going to kick your a-- now.” She further joked, “I think the ATP [is] going to cancel the battle. Going to be like, well, okay, if it’s happening, let it be like Jannik or Carlos, but not Nick.” Talking about her tactics for this mega duel, Aryna Sabalenka revealed, “I’ll make sure I send him some drinks before the battle just so, you know… I’m going to make sure he’s not ready.”

When will this match take place?

Although no such date and location for Aryna Sabalenka vs. Nick Kyrgios has been confirmed yet, as per some reports, this match can take place in Hong Kong in January, with a date at some point in the build-up to the Australian Open later that month a possibility. 

When asked about the rules in this match, Aryna Sabalenka clarified, “So, basically, I'll be on the side with, like, a smaller court. So he has a smaller area to hit, and he's going to be on the regular size. So, kind of like unfair already, right? And I think we're going to have one serve each. That's it.” Hearing this, Jay Shetty expressed his desire to attend, and Sabalenka welcomed him warmly. Shetty assured her that he’ll be cheering for her in this match, and their conversation shifted to a different topic after that.

So, fasten your seatbelts for this blockbuster clash. It’s going to be Aryna Sabalenka’s fiery brand of tennis versus Nick Kyrgios' flamboyant game! Fans can expect high energy, clever tricks, and plenty of laughs as the women’s world number one takes on the Aussies in what promises to be a modern-day twist on a classic tennis rivalry. What did Kyrgios say about this challenge, though?

Nick Kyrgios’ thoughts on the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Aryna Sabalenka

Nick Kyrgios had previously said that he could beat Aryna Sabalenka, the four-time Grand Slam champion. Not only that, but he also suggested that he wouldn’t need to try “100 percent” to win! Aryna Sabalenka has been in tremendous form this season, and she has already won 4 titles, including the 2025 US Open, whereas Nick Kyrgios (currently ranked 651) has played just 5 matches this season and has won just one out of them.

“Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character. I’m super excited for that. I think she’s the type of player who genuinely thinks she’s going to win. She [Sabalenka] is not gonna beat me. Do you really think I have to try 100 percent? I’m gonna try. Because I’m representing the men’s side. I’d say like 6-2 maybe,” said Nick Kyrgios.

He also went on to add, “I’m not going to go there and say, ‘Oh, she’s so good, I can’t play this.’ That would make me look so bad. I’d imagine the internet would go crazy—go bananas.  I mean, our serves, women can’t really return those. And then we can just chip and drop shot. I think I’m going to be okay. I’m going to go there, and I don’t want her to win. That’s for sure.”

No matter who wins this match, this is surely going to be pure entertainment. Let’s now take a glimpse at a number of other tennis matches that took place between men and women in the past.

Men vs. Women

So, there have already been plenty of examples where we have seen women taking on men in a tennis match. If Billie Jean King’s triumph in 1973 lit the flame, Aryna Sabalenka is here to keep it burning bright. And with her latest challenge towards Nick Kyrgios, she has now ensured that this showdown will be more than just a hit-and-giggle. Are you ready?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta