Overview
- Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios are set to play on December 28 at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, with live broadcast planned on BBC Television in Great Britain.
- Both players will get one serve per point and Sabalenka’s side will be 9% smaller, a change Evolve says reflects data that women move about 9% slower on average.
- Top-ranked German Eva Lys called the event a “huge PR stunt,” saying it could make tennis more popular while reserving judgment until after the match.
- Ben Shelton said the format could make it tough for Kyrgios by dulling his first serve advantage, noting Sabalenka’s strength from the baseline.
- Reactions remain split as Billie Jean King stresses this is not comparable to her 1973 match, while Garbiñe Muguruza and Roger Rasheed caution it could be insulting or harmful to the women’s game.