SYDNEY — Confident of defeating Aryna Sabalenka in next month’s so-called “Battle of the Sexes”, Nick Kyrgios admits he is feeling some pressure.
World No. 1 Sabalenka and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios announced the date and venue of the tennis exhibition (December 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) earlier this week.
“I was in Hong Kong recently and a lot of the boys were like, ‘Look, you represent all of us.’ So here I am on the front lines again,” Kyrgios told the Australian Associated Press on Friday. “I’m not used to criticism from the media, but I’m excited whatever the result is.
“I’m going to go out there and show the world that as much as she’s good, she’s also got her weaknesses.”
The name “Battle of the Sexes” was borrowed from the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome, which King won in straight sets.
Kyrgios, who has played only six tour-level matches in the past three years due to wrist and knee injuries, said he would be hitting to a smaller side of the court, which would be nearly 10 per cent smaller than Sabalenka’s target, giving him less room to hit winners.
The two fighters were originally scheduled to face each other in an exhibition in New York on December 8, but the match has not been scheduled, with Sabalenka facing Naomi Osaka and Kyrgios facing Tommy Paul.
Kyrgios said he had the utmost respect for Sabalenka.
“I think we obviously have potentially one of the best women’s players of all time, but she’s far from even scratching the surface of what she can achieve,” he told AAP. “I think she will win more Grand Slams.
“Honestly, she talks about this fight a little more than I do, but I’m ready for that challenge. I’m going to go there, but to be honest, it’s a lot of pressure on me as well.”
That said, while acknowledging that Sabalenka will have the majority of the crowd on his side, Kyrgios cited a pedigree that places him in the rare group of players who have beaten all of the so-called Big Four: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He became only the second player to win their first match, joining Nadal (Wimbledon 2014), Federer (Madrid 2015) and Djokovic (Acapulco 2017).
“Look, I’m very confident,” he said. “So there are 16 people on the planet who have ever beaten the Big 3 and Big 4.
“So I’m very confident, but I’m also very aware that she’s dangerous.”
Although he was ranked 652nd after being away from the sidelines for so long, the 30-year-old Australian was confident he would be fit enough to play within a month.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I feel good.”
