Aryna Sabalenka Wants Revenge: Why the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Rematch Needs to Happen

Let’s be real for a second: exhibition matches are usually just fluff. They’re fun, they’re lighthearted, and usually, nobody actually cares who wins. But when you slap the label “Battle of the Sexes” on a tennis match in the 2020s, things get a little spicy. Recently, Aryna Sabalenka stepped onto the court against the notoriously unpredictable Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, and well… she lost. 6-3, 6-3.

But if you thought the world number one was going to take that L and walk away quietly, you clearly haven’t been watching Sabalenka play. She wants a rematch. And honestly? We kind of need to see it.

The First Match: A Weird Experiment

The showdown between Sabalenka and Kyrgios was billed as a modern reimagining of the legendary 1973 clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. You know, the one where King famously wiped the floor with Riggs and struck a massive blow for gender equality in sports.

This time around, however, the vibe was… different. The organizers decided to implement some “interesting” rule changes to level the playing field. Sabalenka’s court was shrunk by about nine percent to limit Kyrgios’s range, and both players were restricted to just one serve.

The result? It was weird. Sabalenka, usually a powerhouse who dominates from the baseline, looked a bit out of sorts. She later admitted that the amended rules messed with her rhythm more than she expected. “Before the match, I didn’t realize that I have to adjust as well and it was a bit tricky for me,” she explained.

Critics were quick to jump on the event, calling it a gimmick or a cash grab that trivialized the original Battle of the Sexes. And while they might have a point about the spectacle nature of it all, seeing a current Grand Slam champion take on a male pro (even one ranked 671st and barely playing) is still fascinating television.

Sabalenka is Hungry for Revenge

Here is the thing about top-tier athletes: they hate losing. It doesn’t matter if it’s Wimbledon or a friendly game of ping-pong in the locker room. Sabalenka is no exception. Ahead of the Brisbane International, she made her intentions crystal clear.

“I think I would definitely do it again,” Sabalenka said. “I love revenge and I don’t like to leave it the way it is.”

There is something genuinely refreshing about that honesty. Most players would laugh it off, say it was “fun for the fans,” and move on. But Sabalenka isn’t hiding her competitive streak. She admitted that playing against a man—seeing him actually get tired and have to work for his points—was a “cool experience.”

But for round two, she wants to change the terms of engagement. And frankly, her proposed rules sound a lot more entertaining than the weird shrunken-court experiment we got the first time.

Changing the Rules of Engagement

So, what does a fair rematch look like in Sabalenka’s eyes?

“I think that I would still keep the full court for Nick, but I would take two serves, that would even our level a bit more,” she suggested.

This makes way more sense. Taking away the second serve changes the entire psychology of tennis. It forces players to be conservative, robbing fans of the big, booming aces that both Kyrgios and Sabalenka are known for. Giving them both two serves (or at least tweaking the serving rules differently) allows them to actually play their game.

Sabalenka believes she learned a lot from the loss. “As I always say, you’re not losing, you’re learning,” she noted. “Now I know better Nick as a player and as a person as well, so I feel like I know how to play against him.”

Why This Matters (Even if It’s Just for Fun)

Look, nobody is saying this rematch is going to solve gender inequality or revolutionize the sport. The original King vs. Riggs match carried the weight of the women’s movement on its shoulders. This? This is mostly about entertainment.

But tennis needs entertainment. It needs personalities. It needs rivalries, even weird, manufactured ones. Sabalenka is one of the most charismatic players on the tour, and Kyrgios is… well, Kyrgios. Putting them together is a recipe for chaos in the best way possible.

Some fans rolled their eyes at the Dubai exhibition, calling it a “money grab.” Sure, maybe it was. But professional sports are entertainment businesses. If Sabalenka wants to run it back, adjust the rules, and try to take down Kyrgios properly this time, who are we to say no?

She says she needs the revenge. We say: let them play. Just give them a normal court this time, please.