The new edition of the “Battle of the Sexes” is causing controversy in the tennis world. Before the new duel between woman and man on Sunday (4:45 p.m./Sporteurope.tv) between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, there is plenty of criticism – including from a leading actress in the first editions.
“I hope it’s a great match – of course I want Sabalenka to win – but it’s just not the same,” tennis icon Billie Jean King recently told the BBC.
Only the comparison between the sexes is a parallel to the historic duel in which she defeated Bobby Riggs 52 years ago: “Everything else: no. For us it was about social change, culturally speaking, where we were in 1973. For me it was really political. I knew that I had to beat him to bring about social change. I had many reasons to win.” Now it’s much more about entertainment.
And about money? “The only reason they’re doing this is because their management company said, ‘We’re going to make some money from this.’ But what does that have to do with women’s tennis?” said six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs in her tennis podcast. World number one Sabalenka and the injury-plagued Kyrgios, currently ranked 671, are represented by the same agency.
Meanwhile, the protagonists are particularly relaxed. “All the negative comments,” Kyrgios wrote on social media, would bring “even more attention” to the game. “Sit back and enjoy the show,” said Sabalenka: “Nobody is interested in what you have to say.”
The “Battle of the Sexes” has taken place three times so far. Twice in 1973, when the 55-year-old Riggs first beat today’s Grand Slam record winner Margaret Court and a few months later lost to King in the most watched edition. And again in 1992, when the American Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova in straight sets.