BBC to show controversial Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios match as pundits announced | Tennis | Sport
Sabalenka’s contest with Kyrgios will be the fourth woman vs man clash billed as a Battle of the Sexes in tennis history. The most famous iteration came in September 1973, when tennis icon Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in three straight sets.
Riggs had previously defeated Margaret Court in May 1973. In the third Battle of the Sexes, Jimmy Connors beat Martina Navratilova in 1992. But the latest version featuring Sabalenka and Kyrgios has sparked some backlash, with some questioning whether it will undermine women’s tennis, and if there is a point to playing the match.
The contest, which has been organised by Evolve, the agency which represents both Sabalenka and Kyrgios, will air on BBC One from 3.45pm UK time on December 28 with Clare Balding presenting coverage, and Andrew Cotter leading commentary.
Sabalenka and Kyrgios will play a best-of-three set exhibition match, with a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a full third set. The court dimensions will also be nine per cent smaller on Sabalenka’s half, which “reflects average movement-speed differences between men and women”. Both players will only have one first serve.
World No. 1 Sabalenka enjoyed another strong season in 2025, successfully defending her US Open crown and picking up three other titles. She had a 63-12 win-loss record this year. And the 27-year-old recently suggested that the exhibition match was win-win for her, telling The National: “I just want to play my best tennis and put him in a very uncomfortable situation, because for him it’s lose-lose, you know?
“If you win against the girl, it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, congrats, well done’. If you lose against the girl, then it’s, you know, ‘Come on, Nick!’ And for me, it’s win-win. If I win, that’s like, okay, we have something to talk about. And if I lose, I mean, I just hope that I’m not going to lose 6-0. And if I lose, that it’s a tight battle, and I just want to force him to go crazy on court.”
Kyrgios, a former world No. 13 who has won seven singles titles and finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 2022, has spent the better part of three years battling knee and wrist injuries. He made a premature comeback in January but played just four tournaments, and his last match came at the Miami Open in March. But the Aussie recently revealed that he had a breakthrough in his injury recovery, and he’s hoping to get the win over Sabalenka.
“When the world No. 1 challenges you, you answer the call. I’ve got massive respect for Aryna; she’s a powerhouse and a true champion. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and I’m not just here to play, I’m here to entertain. This is what I live for,” he said.
