Overview
- The match was played at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena before roughly 17,000 spectators in a show-style setting with music and on-court antics.
- Both players were limited to one serve per point, and Sabalenka’s side of the court was trimmed by about 9% to counter physical differences.
- Coverage characterized the contest as a commercial spectacle rather than a statement on gender equality, with comparisons to the 1973 Riggs–Billie Jean King era deemed inapt today.
- Sabalenka entered as WTA world No. 1 after a dominant 2025 season, while Kyrgios, ranked around 671, continued his injury-affected comeback.
- Kyrgios called the event a positive step for tennis and acknowledged pre-match nerves, while Sabalenka welcomed a potential rematch as preparation for the new season.