Nick Kyrgios has suggested that he will not need “to try 100 per cent” to defeat women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in their upcoming Battle of the Sexes match in Hong Kong in January.
Speaking with Alexander Bublik, who was beaten in the fourth round of the US Open by men’s world No.1 Jannik Sinner, on the First & Red podcast, Kyrgios shared his confidence ahead of facing three-time grand slam champion Sabalenka, who advanced to the semi-finals in New York on Wednesday morning AEST.
“Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character,” Kyrgios said with a grin. “I’m super excited for that. I think she’s the type of player who genuinely thinks she’s going to win.”
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Bublik then responded by asking Kyrgios, “are you gonna try?”, even suggesting that knowing the Australian he is likely to have a big night beforehand, and not treat the exhibition, which is a nod to the momentous 1973 match when 12-time grand slam single champion Billie Jean King defeated former world No.1 Bobby Riggs.
“She’s not gonna beat me. Do you really think I have to try 100 per cent?” Kyrgios replied.
“I’m gonna try. Because I’m representing the men’s side.
“I’d say like 6-2 maybe.”
“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,” he added.
Kyrgios has played just five singles matches this year, winning only one.
The Australian Open was his only appearance at a grand slam this year, having withdrawn from Wimbledon and the US Open with a combination of knee, foot and wrist injuries.
Those issues kept him completely off the court last while, while he played just one singles match for the year in 2023.
But the 2022 Wimbledon finalist believes his lack of match practice will not be a barrier against the Belarusian, who has made the semi-finals of all four grand slams and won three WTA titles in 2025.
“I mean, our serves, women can’t really return those,” Kyrgios said.
“And then we can just chip and drop shot.
“You can drop shot, they would have no idea.
“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,” he added.
The exhibition match will not be played under normal tennis rules.
The court will be smaller, there will be no second services and the service boxes Kyrgios will be serving into will be smaller.
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