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Sabalenka vs. Kyrgios Set for Dubai Exhibition Under Modified Rules

The off-season showcase uses bespoke adjustments to narrow physical differences, drawing scrutiny over its purpose versus Billie Jean King’s 1973 moment.

Overview

  • The one-off match is scheduled for Sunday at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, airing in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and streaming in India on SonyLIV.
  • Organisers have set one serve per point, reduced Sabalenka’s side of the court by 9%, and adopted best-of-three sets with a 10-point match tiebreak if needed.
  • Sabalenka frames the event as a personal challenge and a platform to highlight women’s tennis, while Kyrgios has predicted victory and questioned needing to try 100 percent.
  • Kyrgios enters with limited recent competition after injuries, having played only five singles matches in 2025 and fallen to the 670s in the rankings.
  • The exhibition is organised by Evolve, which represents both players, as debate continues over its symbolism and commercial motives, with Billie Jean King stressing it is unlike her 1973 contest.