Overview
- Nick Kyrgios defeated WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in Dubai under a one-serve-per-point format and a court reduced by about 9% on Sabalenka’s side.
- The event filled the Coca-Cola Arena with roughly 17,000 spectators and aired on ESPN/Disney, with top tickets reported near $800.
- Organized by the Evolve agency, the showcase leaned into spectacle, featuring playful moments on court and celebrity attendees including Ronaldo and Kaká.
- Context from Billie Jean King and other commentators underscored that this edition was not akin to the 1973 equality-driven match against Bobby Riggs.
- Kyrgios entered ranked around No. 671 after limited play due to injuries, while Sabalenka arrived as the sport’s dominant women’s player; his selection also drew scrutiny over past off-court issues.