Nick Kyrgios admits nerves after high-pressure Battle of the Sexes showdown
Nick Kyrgios opened up with striking honesty after his headline-grabbing win over Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Battle of the Sexes, admitting that the moment carried far more nerves and emotion than many expected.
The exhibition match, held on December 28 at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, saw Kyrgios — ranked outside the top 600 on the ATP Tour — defeat the world No.1 Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. While the scoreline suggested control, Kyrgios revealed afterward that the pressure behind the scenes was intense, shaped by months of criticism, controversy, and personal doubt.
The modern-day Battle of the Sexes inevitably drew comparisons to the iconic 1973 showdown in which Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, a moment that transformed women’s tennis and resonated far beyond sport. That historic match symbolized equality and progress, while the 2025 version faced skepticism from fans and former players who dismissed it as a publicity stunt rather than a meaningful sporting statement.
Criticism intensified when organizers selected Nick Kyrgios, a polarizing figure with a turbulent public image, to face Aryna Sabalenka, the dominant force in women’s tennis. Many questioned the matchup’s intent, relevance, and optics. Kyrgios acknowledged all of it — and said it weighed heavily on him.
Kyrgios after beating Sabalenka in Battle of the Sexes match
Nick: “It was a really tough match. She’s a hell of a competitor and such a great champion. She’s a multiple grand slam champion. I didn’t really know what to expect. As I said before this event, whatever role I was to… pic.twitter.com/URGDaakRJ7
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 28, 2025
“Of course I was nervous,” Kyrgios admitted in his post-match interview. He explained that very few players would willingly step into such a spotlight, especially given his own career uncertainty and long road back from injury. Two years ago, Kyrgios was sidelined, struggling physically and unsure if he would ever compete again at a high level. Returning to a sold-out arena against a four-time Grand Slam champion brought emotions rushing back.
Battle of the Sexes sees Nick Kyrgios reveal how criticism, expectations, and global attention made the Dubai showdown emotionally overwhelming
Despite the final score, Kyrgios stressed how close the match truly felt. Sabalenka repeatedly pressured his serve, forced long rallies, and nearly swung momentum when the crowd began rallying behind her. “Anything can happen when the crowd gets involved,” he said, describing moments where he felt “under the pump” and had to mentally strap in to survive.
Kyrgios was generous in his praise of Sabalenka, calling her “a hell of a competitor” and “one of the great champions of our time.” He noted that he didn’t know what to expect tactically or emotionally and emphasized that the contest was far more competitive than outsiders might assume. Breaks of serve went back and forth, and Sabalenka’s power consistently tested him.
Perhaps most telling was Kyrgios’s refusal to frame himself as the “champ” of the night. Instead, he described the match as a shared spectacle — two very different players coming together under extraordinary circumstances. He even expressed interest in playing Sabalenka again, not to prove dominance, but to showcase her talent and what he believes he still has left to offer the sport.
For Kyrgios, the night was about more than winning. It represented survival, resilience, and a reminder of why he fell in love with tennis in the first place. Nervousness, he said, was inevitable — but so was pride. After months of scrutiny and years of uncertainty, simply standing on that court and competing again felt emotional, validating, and deeply human.
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Beyond the result, the match marked a rare moment of reflection for Kyrgios, who has often thrived on chaos rather than vulnerability. He admitted that standing across the net from Sabalenka — at the peak of her powers — forced him to confront doubts about his body, his future, and his place in the sport. For all the noise surrounding the event, Kyrgios said the experience reminded him that tennis can still push him emotionally in ways few things can. In a career defined by extremes, the nerves he felt in Dubai were not a weakness but proof that the game still matters to him — and that even amid controversy, pressure, and criticism, competition can still bring out something raw and real.
