Battle of the Sexes part 3 to be served up in Dubai

In 1939  a 21 year amateur,  Bobby Riggs won  the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon, having been runner-up at the French Open, and went on the win the US Open, or National Championships as it was called  then.

By 1973 he had become a sexist provocateur stating that   ‘women belong in the bedroom and kitchen, in that order”, and that women’s tennis stinks…”

So on 20 September 1973 he faced Billie Jean King faced Bobby Riggs in the infamous  ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match, which attracted a worldwide television audience of 90 million and writing a new chapter in cultural folklore history.

Today  another version of that  clash has been announced – featuring two of the most familiar players of the  modern era –  Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios.

World No. 1 Sabalenka, is set to face Kyrgios, now ranked 652nd after being beset by injuries, in Dubai on 28 December.

It appears that normal playing rules  and court sizes will be changed to benefit the Women’s world No.1

The exhibition will be the best of three sets, with a 10 point tie-breaker if it goes to a deciding set.

It is understood that the court will be modified to level the playing field between the pair.

Organisers Evolve have used  data that shows women players move about 9% slower on average than their male counterparts.

So  the dimensions of Sabalenka’s end of the court will be 9% smaller.

Each player will only receive one serve – aimed to restrict Kyrgios’ power and speed advantage.

Kyrgios has served at 143mph at Wimbledon in 2019, and is the eighth highest ATP player in terms of aces per match over the course of a career.

This year the Aussie  has landed 71% of his first serves in.  Sabalenka has made 62%.

Let battle commence.