By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Chamlin
Nick Kyrgios may be playing for more than pride and a big payday when he meets Aryna Sabalenka in the Battle of the Sexes showdown this month.
In a new interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, Kyrgios suggested if he loses to Sabalenka, he may well hang up his racquet for good.
“I’ve had some pretty low moments in my career,” Kyrgios told Piers Morgan. “I know Aryna and I know she has real confidence in her ability.
“I’m very aware that she’s a dangerous tennis player. At the end of the day, I’ve had tough losses. But if I go down this one might be the one that hangs the racquets up for good.”
Given Kyrgios is entered in the upcoming Kooyong exhibition next month as well as the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1st offering a $1 Million prize pool, it appears unlikely a loss to Sabalenka will officially end his tennis career, but Kyrgios being Kyrgios, who knows?
The Battle of the Sexes clash between two-time US Open champion Sabalenka and former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios is set for December 28th at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai.
The exhibition event features some interesting rules designed to create a more level playing field—and hopefully a more entertaining exhibition.
The Battle of the Sexes will be a best-of-three-set match with a 10-point championship tiebreaker played in lieu of a third set if necessary. Each player will get only one serve rather than the traditional two serves per point and Sabalenka’s side of the court will be 9 percent smaller in both length and width giving her less court to cover and Kyrgios less space to strike.
The pair squared off in mixed doubles on Monday night at the Garden Cup at Madison Square Garden. Kyrgios, dominating the net, and partner Naomi Osaka edged Sabalenka and Tommy Paul in a Fast4 set. During that match, Sabalenka tried to drill Kyrgios, sporting a shaved head beneath his baseball cap, with a few high volleys.
In their joint interview with Piers Morgan, Sabalenka took a shot at Kyrgios saying originally, she was supposed to get two serves in their upcoming showdown but a “stressed” Kyrgios insisted they each only get one serve.
“Originally, I had two serves but then he got so stressed he took away one serve,” Sabalenka said. “It was so bad for him to do that. To be a gentleman he has to give me two right?”
Asked his response, Kyrgios said initially he agreed to all of the rules, but on reflection he felt if Sabalenka had two serves he would be a firm underdog.
“We had an initial meeting and I was very okay with all the rules,” Kyrgios said. “Don’t get me wrong her serve is very good and is better than some males.
“So I feel like if she had two serves and I only had one serve I would 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 money grab by the management firm that represents Sabalenka and Kyrgios.
Speaking on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the long-time ESPN analyst Stubbs delivered scathing response to this match.
“They are saying this has a significant place in history … yeah, the one 50 years ago [Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs] was important, when it was women trying to fight for equality and women’s rights in the US. That’s when it was important,” Stubbs said.
“No one gives a f*ck what is happening with Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios…
“The only reason they are putting this on is because their management company has gone, ‘we’re going to make a bit of money here.’ But what is in this for women’s tennis?”
Asked to assess Stubbs’ criticism, Kyrgios said he couldn’t care less what his compatriot says.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ve really ever taken anything Rennae Stubbs has said about me really personally or ever really care to be honest,” Kyrgios said. “I think it shows unity. People don’t know that me and Aryna get along extremely well. We’re having fun.”
Kyrgios says this Battle of the Sexes promotes the fact tennis is one of the few sports where men and women can share the court and play together as they do at mixed doubles Grand Slams, including the popular US Open mixed doubles format last August.
“I think it shows unity… I’m gonna feel extremely nervous!”
Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka respond to critics of the Battle of The Sexes contest as they prepare to play each other.
Watch more👇
📺 https://t.co/tP8k3DlpJl@piersmorgan | @SabalenkaA | @NickKyrgios pic.twitter.com/rI3A8vvLfW
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) December 9, 2025
“When men and women are now doing more of these things together, I think it’s a sign the sport is actually moving in a positive way rather than excluding each other,” Kyrgios said. “We still have mixed doubles we still have mixed doubles tournament so why can’t we do things like this.
“I actually see it as a positive. There’s always going to be people not supporting it.”
