Emma Raducanu has shared her thoughts on the upcoming exhibition match between world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, billed as a modern ‘Battle of the Sexes’. The 23-year-old British No.1 said she is curious to see how the contest unfolds, though she does not plan to watch it live in full.
Speaking during her off-season, Raducanu stated: “I want to see if they both go flat out, but it will be interesting. I don’t think I’ll watch it all live, but I think I’ll watch some highlights or a recap of it.” The match, set to take place in Dubai and broadcast on the BBC, has drawn criticism from tennis legend Billie Jean King, who described it as “not the same” as her historic 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs.
Raducanu, who partnered Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles at the US Open, offered insight into the technical differences between men’s and women’s tennis. “It wasn’t long but I hit with Carlos in New York, and the impact of his ball… It looks like he’s not trying, but on your strings, it’s so heavy,” she explained. She noted that while Sabalenka’s ball is also heavy, the overall heaviness and strength of male players is distinct.
The exhibition will feature unconventional rules: Sabalenka’s side of the court will be nine per cent smaller, and each player will have only one serve per point. The match will be best-of-three sets, with a first-to-10 tiebreak replacing the third set. Raducanu, however, ruled out any personal interest in facing a male player in singles, saying: “No. I don’t think anyone would sign up for that! Honestly.”
