"The gap with some male players is getting smaller and smaller": Nick Kyrgios lauds Battle of the Sexes as 'great stepping stone for tennis'

While controversial the so-called Battle of the Sexes between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios dominated headlines on Sunday 28 December whether due to sheer absurdity or even intrigue as the Aussie ace saw off the WTA World No.1 6-3, 6-3.

Taking place in the UAE, Kyrgios said post match that it shows the gap is getting smaller between the top ATP and top WTA stars and that it is a great stepping stone for tennis for this to take place.

Albeit as many have pointed out, this is not really the case as the Battle of the Sexes back in the day was contrived due to a lack of equality. But now with the advent of equal prize money coming into the fore more and for most tournaments it is a requirement very soon, it isn't a power move as such.

This in comparison to the previous edition involving Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King where the latter was fighting for equal footing. Kyrgios spent the post match on court interview lauding Sabalenka and said she had him on the run a lot and is a 'formidable opponent' as well as a 'great champion'.

“It was a really tough match,” the Aus­tralian said in an on-court inter­view. “She’s a hell of a com­pet­itor and such a great cham­pion, obvi­ously a mul­tiple grand slam cham­pion. I didn’t know what to expect and what role I played – it was just another great oppor­tun­ity. She broke my serve numer­ous times and I had to strap in.”

"I was nervous. Few people would have agreed to be in that situation. Aryna was ready for this challenge. The score was closer than it looks. She is an incredible athlete.

"When I saw her moving from side to side and hitting certain shots, I thought that the gap with some male players was getting smaller and smaller. I'm not surprised. We have trained together several times. It could have gone either way. I'm not joking."

“Ulti­mately it was a really hard fought battle, and there were breaks back and for­ward,” Kyr­gios added. “See­ing someone as great as Sabalenka out here and myself, it truly is a spec­tacle, and a great step­ping stone for­ward for the sport of ten­nis.”

Kyrgios was handicapped too by the fact that he had a smaller court on his end meaning less room for error. But still he won fairly easily. Others also discussed the fact that he didn't exactly look 100% despite the fact that he has been adamant in recent months about him finding some sort of a miracle way to play again.

The proof will be in the pudding at the Brisbane International next week which will be somewhat of a comeback. He is currently entered into play the ATP 250 which takes place at the same time as the WTA 500 on the same week which features Sabalenka so ironically both will likely be on the same flight to Australia.

He didn't play World Tennis League singles which perhaps was a bit of a warning sign in itself with the Aussie just plumping to play singles which showed that perhaps everything wasn't 100% yet. Albeit he did play at MSG and in Atlanta in singles losing both matches but the intrigue on one of Australia\s greatest maverick showmen will continue. As will the debate on whether Sabalenka was right to play in this event in the first place.