World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has expressed her desire for a rematch against Nick Kyrgios after her defeat to the Australian in the much-discussed “Battle of the Sexes” match.
The duo faced each other in Dubai, with Kyrgios securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an engaging and competitive contest. The match was played on a court adjusted to be nine percent smaller to accommodate the differences in movement and speed between male and female players.
Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka indicated she would prefer a modified setup for a potential rematch, particularly concerning court dimensions and serving rules. “I think I would definitely do it again. I love revenge, and I don’t like to leave it the way it is. I think for the next match we will come up with a different format. Before the match I didn’t realise I would have to adjust, and it was a bit tricky for me. I think I would keep the full court, but I would take two serves. That would even our level a lot more,” Sabalenka stated ahead of her title defence at the Brisbane International.
She noted the experience provided her with valuable insights into Kyrgios’ game, boosting her confidence for a future encounter. “I always say that when you are losing, you are learning and I learned a lot about his game. I know Nick as a player and a person better, and I feel I know how to play against him. I would do it again. I need revenge,” she added.
Despite the loss, Sabalenka took pride in pushing Kyrgios to his limits and relished making him work hard for the victory. She also extended her best wishes to him as he prepares for the Brisbane tournament. “I am happy that I was able to challenge him, make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired. I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game. It was a really cool experience, and I really hope he will do well here in Brisbane and play incredible tennis in the Australian Open,” she said.