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Sabalenka vs. Kyrgios Exhibition Set for Sunday in Dubai Under Modified Rules

A commercial reboot of the 'Battle of the Sexes' markets spectacle over purity, prompting scrutiny of rule changes.

Overview

  • World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces Nick Kyrgios on Sunday at 7:45 p.m. local time (15:45 GMT) at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in a non-ranking exhibition.
  • The format features one serve per point, a court 9% smaller on Sabalenka’s side, and best-of-three sets with a 10‑point deciding tiebreak if needed.
  • BBC One will air the match live in the UK with streaming on BBC iPlayer, with Al Jazeera offering live text coverage.
  • Kyrgios, ranked 673 and returning from injury-hit seasons, has a Brisbane International wildcard and has publicly predicted a straightforward win.
  • Sabalenka frames the event as entertainment and a showcase for women’s tennis, while critics including Greg Rusedski and Billie Jean King question credibility and comparisons to 1973.