Written by Namit KumarDecember 28, 2025 11:57 PM IST 4 min readNick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka interact at the net during their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo)Aryna Sabalenka arrived at Dubai’s Coca Cola Arena on Sunday from the terraces in a bedazzled jacket to the ‘Rocky’ theme song, like this was Wrestlemania. Nick Kyrgios had ambled, with typical disdain, into the court a few minutes prior.The two proceeded to play another ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match, one that could only be called as much because there was a racquet, a ball, and a net between players from the opposite genders. Even as Sania Mirza, on commentary, extolled the virtues of taking up clever positions on this trapezium-shaped court – the jarring-looking playing surface shaped as such to negate Kyrgios’ biological advantages by giving Sabalenka 9 percent less area to cover – there was very little evidence that this was a serious competitive contest.The 17,000-capacity stadium was respectfully filled, and some sporting dignitaries, like Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Kaka, even made it to watch. After the hour-long drab, unexciting contest came to an end, Kyrgios had prevailed 6-3, 6-3, but it would be hard to call it a win.Kyrgios and Sabalenka had insisted that they are not trying to be morally upright in their exploits; just trying to entertain people who are still evidently obsessed with this debate. That was pretty clear as Kyrgios moved around gingerly and just looped in his backhands, and as Sabalenka broke into a shimmy during the odd break.Other than the fact that, for all concerned, including the showrunners – the Evolve agency that represents both players – some easy money was made, what was really achieved from this cynical spectacle that was neither culturally significant nor some sort of eye-opening sporting clash? Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka embrace at the net at the end of their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday. (AP Photo)In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs on an even playing field in a best-of-five-sets match. Riggs had made cankerous statements about women’s tennis and was wholly proven wrong in a moment that is largely considered as a turning point in ushering in a bit (not definitive) of gender equality in the sport. If not at administrative levels, then at least in public imagination.52 years later, women’s tennis has become a spectacle in its own right; certainly the most watched and commercially viable women’s sport in the world. What are the points that can be proven for the World’s No. 1-ranked player, a four-time Major winner and finalist of three of the four Grand Slam tournaments this year, to compete against a half-fit, part-timer, who has played six competitive matches in three years and is ranked World No. 671? How much damage does she do to the position she has worked so hard to legitimately earn by losing this match?Story continues below this adAren’t we told that in no world can a woman contend with a man in a competitive match? Isn’t that exactly what supporters of this sort of event – the kind that continue Riggs’ arguments from five decades ago – keep stating when they warn against the imagined threat of trans women competing in women’s sports?The loss came after concessions had been made to make Sabalenka more competitive here: in addition to a smaller court, second serves were done away with so the male player does not hold too much of an advantage. But at the end of the match, as she walked over to congratulate her opponent, the sheepish expression spoke of how needless, perhaps even harmful, this exercise had been.The woman who kicked off this debate put it best. When asked by the BBC before the event about the similarities between her victory over Riggs and Sunday’s event, Billie Jean King had said: “The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That’s it. Everything else, no. Ours was about social change; culturally, where we were in 1973. Mine was really political. I knew I had to beat him for societal change. I had a lot of reasons to win.”Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines. Professional Profile Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports. Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers. Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events: International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series): "Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series. "How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025). "Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo. "Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025). Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy): "Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history. "What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing. "Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025). Tennis and Golf: "Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss. "Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025). Football Tactics: "Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football. Reporting Style Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... 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