By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, December 10, 2025Photo credit score: Matthew Chamlin
Nick Kyrgios could also be enjoying for greater than pleasure and an enormous payday when he meets Aryna Sabalenka within the Battle of the Sexes showdown this month.
In a brand new interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, Kyrgios steered if he loses to Sabalenka, he could nicely hold up his racquet for good.
“I’ve had some fairly low moments in my profession,” Kyrgios advised Piers Morgan. “I do know Aryna and I do know she has actual confidence in her skill.
“I’m very conscious that she’s a harmful tennis participant. On the finish of the day, I’ve had powerful losses. But when I’m going down this one may be the one which hangs the racquets up for good.”
Given Kyrgios is entered within the upcoming Kooyong exhibition subsequent month in addition to the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1st providing a $1 Million prize pool, it seems unlikely a loss to Sabalenka will formally finish his tennis profession, however Kyrgios being Kyrgios, who is aware of?
The Battle of the Sexes conflict between two-time US Open champion Sabalenka and former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios is ready for December twenty eighth on the Coca Cola Enviornment in Dubai.
The exhibition occasion options some attention-grabbing guidelines designed to create a extra stage enjoying discipline—and hopefully a extra entertaining exhibition.
The Battle of the Sexes shall be a best-of-three-set match with a 10-point championship tiebreaker performed in lieu of a 3rd set if needed. Every participant will get just one serve moderately than the normal two serves per level and Sabalenka’s aspect of the court docket shall be 9 % smaller in each size and width giving her much less court docket to cowl and Kyrgios much less area to strike.
The pair squared off in blended doubles on Monday evening on the Backyard Cup at Madison Sq. Backyard. Kyrgios, dominating the web, and accomplice Naomi Osaka edged Sabalenka and Tommy Paul in a Fast4 set. Throughout that match, Sabalenka tried to drill Kyrgios, sporting a shaved head beneath his baseball cap, with a number of excessive volleys.
Of their joint interview with Piers Morgan, Sabalenka took a shot at Kyrgios saying initially, she was purported to get two serves of their upcoming showdown however a “burdened” Kyrgios insisted they every solely get one serve.
“Initially, I had two serves however then he obtained so burdened he took away one serve,” Sabalenka mentioned. “It was so dangerous for him to try this. To be a gentleman he has to provide me two proper?”
Requested his response, Kyrgios mentioned initially he agreed to the entire guidelines, however on reflection he felt if Sabalenka had two serves he can be a agency underdog.
“We had an preliminary assembly and I used to be very okay with all the foundations,” Kyrgios mentioned. “Don’t get me unsuitable her serve is excellent and is best than some males.
“So I really feel like if she had two serves and I solely had one serve I’d be the underdog and I’m not even joking.”
Former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs blasted the Battle of the Sexes showdown as a mere cash seize by the administration agency that represents Sabalenka and Kyrgios.
Talking on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the long-time ESPN analyst Stubbs delivered scathing response to this match.
“They’re saying this has a major place in historical past … yeah, the one 50 years in the past [Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs] was vital, when it was ladies making an attempt to combat for equality and ladies’s rights within the US. That’s when it was vital,” Stubbs mentioned.
“Nobody provides a f*ck what is going on with Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios…
“The one motive they’re placing this on is as a result of their administration firm has gone, ‘we’re going to make a bit of cash right here.’ However what’s on this for girls’s tennis?”
Requested to evaluate Stubbs’ criticism, Kyrgios mentioned he couldn’t care much less what his compatriot says.
“To be sincere, I don’t assume I’ve actually ever taken something Rennae Stubbs has mentioned about me actually personally or ever actually care to be sincere,” Kyrgios mentioned. “I feel it exhibits unity. Folks don’t know that me and Aryna get alongside extraordinarily nicely. We’re having enjoyable.”
Kyrgios says this Battle of the Sexes promotes the actual fact tennis is among the few sports activities the place women and men can share the court docket and play collectively as they do at blended doubles Grand Slams, together with the favored US Open blended doubles format final August.
“I feel it exhibits unity… I am gonna really feel extraordinarily nervous!”
Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka reply to critics of the Battle of The Sexes contest as they put together to play one another.
Watch extra👇
📺 https://t.co/tP8k3DlpJl@piersmorgan | @SabalenkaA | @NickKyrgios pic.twitter.com/rI3A8vvLfW
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) December 9, 2025
“When women and men at the moment are doing extra of these items collectively, I feel it’s an indication the game is definitely shifting in a constructive approach moderately than excluding one another,” Kyrgios mentioned. “We nonetheless have blended doubles we nonetheless have blended doubles match so why can’t we do issues like this.
“I really see it as a constructive. There’s at all times going to be folks not supporting it.”
