US Open 2025
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York
Dates: 24 August–7 September
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and My Newspaper Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the My Newspaper Sport website & app.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has expressed excitement at the prospect of playing former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’-style exhibition match. The idea has been discussed, though a date and venue are yet to be confirmed.
Belarus’ Sabalenka, 27, and 30-year-old Australian Kyrgios – ranked 651st in the world – share the same agent. Stuart Duguid, founder of the Evolve agency, which also represents former world number one Naomi Osaka, is reportedly driving the project, sources told My Newspaper Sport.
“I think it’s a cool idea and will be spectacular to watch. It’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick,” Sabalenka said after reaching the US Open final. “Like he said in an interview, I genuinely think that I’m going to win. I’ll definitely go out there and try my best.”
Sabalenka will aim to secure the fourth Grand Slam singles title of her career on Saturday, having already won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024. She remains one of the sport’s most formidable competitors and is known for her powerful game and aggressive baseline play.
Kyrgios, who reached a career-high ranking of 13 in 2016, has struggled with injuries in recent years. He has played just five matches this year after returning from a serious wrist injury that sidelined him for 18 months, and has not appeared on the ATP Tour since a second-round loss at the Miami Open in March.
Sabalenka added: “It’s going to be a good thing if I’m able to beat him, but we are not sure about the place yet. If we’re going to bring it, we’re going to bring it to somewhere where it’s going to be a lot of people watching and we’re gonna put a lot of pressure on Nick.”
The ‘Battle of the Sexes’ concept has a rich history in tennis. Most famously, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in 1973 after Riggs had beaten Australia’s Margaret Court earlier that year. In 1992, 40-year-old Jimmy Connors played against fellow Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, 35, under hybrid rules, adding further intrigue to the gender-mixed exhibition format.
The proposed Sabalenka-Kyrgios showdown has generated significant buzz among fans and could be a landmark event if finalized, blending sport, spectacle, and history in a unique way.
