Nick Kyrgios admits he is "nervous" ahead of facing Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai but at the same time excited about having a chance to do something unconventional.
The day for the Battle of the Sexes has come as the 2022 Wimbledon finalist will take on the top-ranked WTA player at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
For the past two months, there has been enormous attention surrounding the Kyrgios and Sabalenka match. In one of his past interviews, the Australian revealed that some of his ATP colleagues reached out to him and directly said that he would be representing men's tennis. On the other side, the Belarusian dismissed the claims about possibly damaging women's tennis and claimed that she was determined to do well in the Battle of the Sexes.
Kyrgios: I would be lying if I sad I'm not a bit nervous
“Both of us have played in grand stadiums all over the world. She is a Grand Slam champion, I have played incredible matches, but I would be lying if I said I’m not a bit nervous," the Australian admitted.
“I can’t wait to step on the court. I know the whole world will be watching us. Aryna has tried to distract me with the nightlife here, but I remain focused (laughs).
“Having the chance to face a great champion like Aryna is a challenge, it’s something different, but at the same time, sports and entertainment are the same. If you look at all the buzz this event has created… It all started with a ‘What if…?’ And since then, it has been one of the most talked-about events of the year."
In the same interview, Kyrgios noted that he was aware that a lot of viewers would tune in for the match. Also, the seven-time ATP champion said that he and Sabalenka were good friends off the court and suggested that this match could take tennis to a new level.
