Battle of the Sexes: What are the rules in the Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios match?

When Aryna Sabalenka, the current Women’s World No. 1, steps onto court against Nick Kyrgios in their upcoming exhibition, it will carry far more weight than merely a fun showcase. The matchup—styled as a modern-day “battle of the sexes”—raises serious questions about fairness, optics and the broader message around gender in sport.

Sabalenka comes into this with elite form and confidence. In contrast, Kyrgios has had a chaotic recent stretch: injury disruptions, limited competitive matches, and yet he is willing to take on the role of representing men’s tennis. On paper, the gap in rhythm, fitness and consistency appears to favour Sabalenka. The fact that the format is being altered to ostensibly level the playing field underlines just how atypical the event is.

The organisers have confirmed that the match will take place on December 28 in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena. (ESPN.com) That gives both players a deadline and a stage—but arguably puts more pressure on Kyrgios, whose form is less stable.

Crucially, the rules will not mirror a standard ATP or WTA match. Instead: Kyrgios will be allowed only one serve per point, and his side of the court will be smaller (both length and width) to reduce his inherent advantages in serve and reach. (Tennis.com) The tangible modifications speak volumes: this is a men’s vs women’s showdown, not a typical match, and the organisers are acknowledging the physical disparity by tweaking variables.

Sabalenka has embraced the challenge—and more than that, sees this as a statement for women’s sport. She stated that she expects to bring her best, to “represent women’s sport in the best way possible.” (People.com) She’s under no illusion about the stakes: not just for her, but symbolically for female athletes everywhere.

On the other side, Kyrgios has taken a different tone. He has publicly suggested he may not even need to be at his peak to win, invoking gender-based assumptions: referring to women’s ability to return his serve, for example. (SI) That kind of rhetoric drags the contest into realms beyond sport: into culture wars, perception and gender politics. His comments carry reputational risk—if he loses, the criticism may be magnified.

The match also echoes history. The original “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973 had Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs in a significant moment for tennis and gender equality. (The Independent) This 2025-26 version picks up those threads but in a very different era—with different stakes but arguably similar symbolism.

In terms of structure: it will be best-of-three sets, with a ten-point tiebreak if they split the first two. While some sources note these rules, others say full rules are yet to be finalised. The one-serve and smaller court size are the headline modifications. (ESPN.com)

Another factor to consider: Kyrgios’ recent form. He has played very few competitive matches and has spent much of the season battling injury. Meanwhile, Sabalenka has been dominant. The disparity raises questions: even with modified rules, can the match truly be “fair,” or is its value principally as spectacle? Many will watch for entertainment, fewer for rigorous sport.

What this contest will really test is perception. If Sabalenka wins, it will reinforce momentum for women’s tennis and challenge lingering gender assumptions. If Kyrgios wins, especially comfortably, critics will argue the rule tweaks were insufficient, or conversely that the event was always stacked. Either way, the outcome will be dissected beyond tennis.

From a viewer’s perspective: expect a show match with high drama, strong statements, and plenty of media build-up. But also expect a veneer of exhibition—they are not playing for ranking points, the environment will be different, and the stakes, while symbolic, differ from Grand Slams.

In short: this is not “just a match.” It is a carefully framed event, blending sport, entertainment and gender narrative. The rules have been modified to try to bridge the physical gulf, but the underlying narrative—man vs woman in sport—remains loaded. How each player handles that narrative may matter even more than how each handles the ball.

If you’d like, I can delve into the precise rule-set breakdown, historical precedents of mixed-gender matches in tennis, and what each player’s recent form suggests for the outcome.