Some see the meeting between four-time major singles champion Sabalenka and Australia’s former number 13 Kyrgios as harmless entertainment, but others believe it could denigrate the women’s game if Sabalenka loses.
The exhibition will be the best of three sets, with a 10-point tiebreak if it goes to a decider.
Each player will receive just one serve, while Sabalenka’s side of the court will be 9% smaller after tournament organizers Evolve said data showed female players move about 9% slower on average than their male counterparts.
“I played three out of five sets against Bobby, I played on a court and didn’t change anything,” King remembers.
“I said, ‘Look, I’m playing straight, otherwise I’m not going to play.’ And Bobby loved it.”
King’s match came a few months after Riggs – who died in 1995 aged 77 – defeated world number one Margaret Court 6-1 6-2 in the first ‘Battle of the Sexes’ matches.
It was played the same year King founded the Women’s Tennis Association, and three years after a group of players called The Original 9 broke away from the sport’s establishment.
It also took place at the time of the Title IX legislation in the US, which banned discrimination on the basis of sex in any school or educational program, and gave male and female athletic teams equal benefits, opportunities and treatment.
“Mine was really political. It was culturally raw, what was involved,” the 82-year-old King added.
“I knew I had to beat him because of social change. I had a lot of reasons to win.”
#Battle #Sexes #Billie #Jean #King #Aryna #Sabalenka #Nick #Kyrgios #Match #Match #Bobby #Riggs