Sabalenka keen to play Kyrgios in exhibition event
US Open 2025
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September
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World number one Aryna Sabalenka says it would be a "good thing" to play former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a 'Battle of the Sexes'-style match.
Discussions have taken place about the event, although a date and venue has not been decided.
Belarus' Sabalenka, 27, and 30-year-old Australian Kyrgios – ranked 651st in the world – share the same agent.
Stuart Duguid, who founded the Evolve agency which represents the pair and former world number one Naomi Osaka, is behind the event, sources have told BBC Sport.
"I think it's a cool idea and will be spectacular to watch. It's going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick," Sabalenka said after reaching the US Open final.
"Like he said in an interview, I genuinely think that I'm going to win. I'll definitely go out there and try my best."
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Defending champion Sabalenka will bid for the fourth Grand Slam singles title of her career on Saturday, having also won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024.
Kyrgios, who reached a career high 13th in 2016, has only played five matches this year since returning from a serious wrist injury that kept him out for 18 months.
He has not played on the ATP Tour since losing in the Miami Open second round in March.
"It's going to be a good thing if I'm able to [beat] him, but we are not sure about the place," Sabalenka added.
"If we're going to bring it, we're going to bring it to somewhere where it's going to be a lot of people watching and we're gonna put a lot of pressure on Nick."
Three official matches labelled as the 'Battle of the Sexes' have taken place – most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.
American veteran Riggs beat Australia's Margaret Court before King exacted revenge four months later.
In 1992, 40-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, 35, under hybrid rules.
