Aryna Sabalenka might have lost the 2025 Battle of the Sexes, but she’s already planning her comeback against men’s tennis players.
The famous Battle of the Sexes returned after decades away from the spotlight. But it wasn’t quite the spectacle fans remembered.
Sure, the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai was reportedly sold out. The criticism online? That was pretty brutal.
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Lots of tennis fans didn’t like what they saw. They thought the whole thing could hurt women’s tennis. After all, even the WTA world No. 1 was always going to struggle against someone who’s had success on the men’s tour.
But some people enjoyed it for what it was – pure entertainment.
Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios seemed to love every minute of it. They brushed off the criticism completely. They couldn’t understand how anyone could view the match negatively.
At the end of the day, they just wanted to put on a show.
Ready for Round Two
After losing the match 3-6, 3-6, Sabalenka was actually pretty proud of how she played. She even dropped hints about wanting another shot at Kyrgios.
The way she talked about planning for "next time" made it clear this wasn’t a one-and-done situation.
"I felt great. I think I put on a great fight. He was struggling. He got really tight. I’m happy to see the guy is getting tight when taking away one of my serves. I think it was a great level. I made a lot of great shots. Moved a lot to the net. Great drop shots, Nick. Great serving."
She really seemed to think she’d figured something out during the match.
"I really enjoyed the show. I think… not I think… I feel like next time I play him, I already know the tactic. I know his strengths and weaknesses. It’s gonna be a better match for sure."
When reporters asked if she’d actually want a rematch, her answer was immediate.
"Yeah. I love revenge. I love to challenge myself. I would love to play again."
That’s classic Sabalenka right there – she hates losing more than most players.
Training Benefits
Despite the loss, the Belarusian star focused on what she’d gained from the experience. Playing against men is always tough for women’s players, but it’s also incredible practice.
Everything’s just faster and more powerful.
"Of course, it felt different. The court is different. I had to make a couple of adjustments. Obviously, playing against a guy is completely different tennis. Everything is much faster. It was a great fitness for me today."
She saw it as perfect preparation for the upcoming season. Kind of like training at altitude – if you can handle this, regular matches feel easier.
"I hope for the next couple of days I’ll have great recovery and great days off. After this match, I’m pretty much ready for the season. I hope I’ll bring great tennis and bring joy to the people watching me during the season."
Sabalenka will kick off her 2026 season at the Brisbane International. From there, she’ll head to Melbourne with her sights set on a third Australian Open title.
She won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. The 2025 final against Madison Keys didn’t go her way, so there’s definitely some unfinished business down under.
But first? Maybe that rematch with Kyrgios.
