Results of ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match leaves fans reeling as women’s world number one competes against man ranked 671
A newly televised tennis exhibition match billed as being a 'battle of the sexes' left fans baffled after it reached its conclusion in Dubai on Sunday (29 December).
Back in 1973, tennis star Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs in front of approximately 90 million people, and managed to whoop him on the court to win the best-of-five match at the Houston Astrodome.
More than 50 years later, the BBC brought back the televized event with women's number one Aryna Sabalenka, who took on Nick Kyrgios - ranked 671st - in what it described as 'a new tennis battle of the sexes'.
The match took place with modified rules, with each player restricted to one serve rather than two. Sabalenka also had her side of the court slightly reduced in size by nine percent, to account for the difference in speed between men and women.
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However, after Kyrgios secured the win in straight sets 6-3 6-3, viewers were wondering what the point of the whole thing was.
A number of X users took to the platform to share their thoughts, with many suggesting the match may have done more harm than good when it comes to discussions of women and men taking part in the same competitions.
"The Kyrgios-Sabalenka farce was tasteless & pointless," one X user wrote. "It achieved little other than further polarization, and the amplification of crude, uninformed views of many people who don’t understand how physiology affects sport, and who want to discriminate against women’s sport."
Another added: "Couldn’t agree more.. utterly pointless."
"It’s genuinely dispiriting that our national broadcaster, the BBC, is showing Battle of the Sexes tennis match (Sabalenka vs Kyrgios). An event which cheapens the sport and fundamentally betrays the legacy of Billie Jean King," wrote a third.
However, in response to critics of the match, Sabalenka said: "I feel like we just brought more attention to our sport and I don't see how it can be bad."
King herself also told BBC Sport there were few similarities between her match, and the latest event.
"The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That's it," King said. "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."
After winning in straight sets, Kyrgios complimented Sabalenka as a 'hell of a player and such a great champion'.
Per Sky News, he added: "I didn't really know what to expect. She broke my serve numerous times. Honestly, I had to strap in because she was putting the pressure on. She was hitting some amazing shots.
"I would love to play her again and showcase her talent and what I have left in the tank. Ultimately, it was a really hard-fought battle. There were breaks back and forth."
Meanwhile, Sabalenka was satisfied she 'put up a great fight'.
"I really enjoyed the show and I feel like next time - when I play him - I already know the tactics. I know his strengths, his weaknesses and it's going to be a better match for sure," she said.
UNILAD has contacted the BBC for comment.
Emily Brown