Sabalenka fires back at Kyrgios ahead of Battle of the Sexes exhibition

Aryna Sabalenka has responded to comments from Nick Kyrgios that he would "easily" beat her in a proposed Battle of the Sexes exhibition, saying she plans to "kick his a***" ahead of the scheduled January 2026 match.

The pair were linked to an exhibition slated for Hong Kong in the lead-up to the Australian Open, after Kyrgios discussed the fixture in an interview with Kazakhstan player Alexander Bublik that was shared on social media. In the clip Kyrgios said he and Sabalenka were represented by the same agency and described getting to know her as he called her "definitely a character." He added he was "super excited" about the match and suggested he would not need to "try 100 per cent" to win.

Sabalenka, the current women’s world No. 1, delivered a blunt reply when asked about Kyrgios’s remarks, saying she would respond on court. The Belarusian has been among the leading figures in the women’s game, while Kyrgios remains one of men’s tennis’s most outspoken and polarising figures and has experienced interrupted seasons because of injuries.

Organisers have promoted the exhibition as a high-profile, off-season showdown between top players from the men’s and women’s tours. Battle of the Sexes exhibitions are designed as entertainment fixtures rather than ranking events, and the format and competitive intensity can vary according to agreements between players and promoters.

Kyrgios’s on-record comments — that he expected to win comfortably and could hold back effort — drew immediate reaction because of the contrast with Sabalenka’s competitive reputation and top-ranked status. Sabalenka’s reply underscores the personal and promotional rivalry that often accompanies exhibition tennis, where build-up and banter are part of the draw for spectators and broadcasters.

Both players have engaged in exhibition tennis previously. Kyrgios has been a frequent participant in high-profile exhibitions and charity matches, and his candid remarks in interviews have regularly generated headlines. Sabalenka has also taken part in exhibition events while maintaining a rigorous tour schedule as a leading contender at Grand Slam tournaments.

Promoters and both players will now manage the build-up to the January fixture, which is intended as a lead-in to the Australian Open. Further details about venue confirmation, match format and ticketing are expected from organisers in the coming months. Until then, the exchange of comments between Sabalenka and Kyrgios has become part of the early narrative for the winter exhibition.

Neither player has provided a detailed public schedule for the match beyond the broader timing and location that have been reported, and both remain focused on their forthcoming competitive seasons as tournament calendars resume.