In Dubai, the world number one on the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka, was pitted against Nick Kyrgios, who is now ranked 671st in the men's world rankings and has barely played at the elite level in recent years.
To get a slightly more balanced duel, the players were allowed only one serve and Sabalenka's half of the court was nine percent smaller than Kyrgios'.
However, that did not stop the Australian from winning in straight sets (6–3, 6–3).
The “Battle of the sexes” epithet was coined in the 1970s when former men's world number one Bobby Riggs, then 55 years old, first faced the legend Margaret Court, then 31, and won in straight sets in May 1973. In September of that year, Riggs then lost to another legend Billie Jean King, 29, in three straight sets in Houston, Texas.
