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World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to challenge Nick Kyrgios in a cross-gender exhibition event in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Belarus' Sabalenka, 27, and thirty-year-old Australian Kyrgios – ranked 652nd in the world – are set to compete at the Dubai venue on 28 December.

Four-times Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the current Wimbledon and US Open champion.

Kyrgios, who peaked at 13th in 2016, has only played five matches this year since recovering from a significant wrist injury that sidelined him for a year and a half.

He has been absent on the ATP Tour since losing in the Miami Open second round in March.

"I have a lot of respect for Nick and his skill, but make no mistake, I'm prepared to bring my A-game," Sabalenka said.

Past Background of ‘Battle of the Sexes’

Three official matches known as the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ have occurred – most notably between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.

American veteran Riggs had beaten Australia's Margaret Court before King exacted revenge a few months after.

In 1992, a forty-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then thirty-five, under special rules.

"I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has achieved for the women's game," Sabalenka added. "It's an honor to represent women's tennis and to be part of this contemporary version of the legendary ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match."

Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final, expressed he will relish the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he has the same representative.

"When the world number one challenges you, you step up to the plate. I've got massive respect for Aryna; she's a powerhouse and a true champion," he said. "However I've never shied away from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to thrill the crowd. This is what I live for."

Harmless Entertainment or Harmful to Women's Sport? – Viewpoint

Followers of the sport have been divided into opposing sides since rumblings of this exhibition began at the US Open in September.

Certain individuals believe it is a bit of harmless entertainment which will effectively draw the eyeballs of a younger demographic in the age of social-media content.

Another group feels it is a misguided venture – arranged by the Evolve agency which the players both share – and sets up an opportunity for women's sport to be belittled if Sabalenka is beaten by Kyrgios.

The fact that Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting an former partner in 2023, then later had to separate himself from controversial influencer Andrew Tate in 2024, is a big reason why that camp believe this exhibition could provoke gender bias and misogyny.

Sabalenka does not seem to be too worried the event will have a detrimental effect on women's sports. Speaking about the idea at the US Open, she said it was a "interesting concept" and chuckled as she pledged to "defeat Nick convincingly".

It is hard, however, to see what she gains from the event – especially if she is defeated to a man who has not been fit for a long time.

For Kyrgios, he manages to stay relevant despite his ongoing break from the tour and constantly in the public eye which he has consistently shown he loves to be in.

At this point, details about the structure of the match are still scarce – although serving restrictions and potential court modifications are believed to have been considered.