"I was extremely stressed. I'm glad it's over" - The dramatic matchup between Connors and Navratilova in the most recent Battle of the Sexes clash

Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios are raring to go ahead of their clash, dubbed as the Battle of the Sexes. This is not the first showing of this unique format, with previous matches being played out between a man and woman. One of these was Jimmy Connors facing off against Martina Navratilova.

This was the third instalment of the series, following Bobby Riggs matches against Margaret Court and most famously Billie Jean King. After demolishing Court 6-2, 6-1, he challenged the legendary King for a match. Later in 1973, this clash was the main focus for many tennis fans around the world.

It was a historic event which racked in a whole host of viewers. The Houston Astrodome was packed with over 30,000 fans while a stunning 90 million people tuned into the match on their televisions, 50 million alone in the United States. King was exceptional on the day, defeating Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. This was a massive moment for the women's right movement in 1973 and a huge step in the right direction for gender equality in sports, especially tennis with the sport reaping the rewards to this day.

In 1992, the next Battle of the Sexes was broadcasted to the world. It involved former world number one and eight-time Grand Slam champion Connors facing off against Navratilova. The 18-time Grand Slam champion was still competing among the top players in the world despite not being at her former best level. This was the same with Connors, with the American, 40 at the time and four years older than his opponent, had firmly fallen out of the regular top players in the sport.

The match was played at the well known Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It brought out a lot of interest and speculation in this third match. The exhibition matchup was not a competitive showing but more for entertainment for the crowd to enjoy in a more relaxed scenery compared to the competitive ATP and WTA Tours.

The money involved was very tempting for both players, making it easy to say yes to this different opportunity. They were both guaranteed to pocket $500,000 each (approximately $1.1 million in 2025) with the winner clinching double that sum in what would be a very rewarding trip to LA.

Fitting the location, Connors turned into a gambling man. Years after the result, the American admitted that he bet $1 million on him winning the contest while conceding fewer than eight games. It was a huge gamble against a proven competitor, but it would pay off for a huge pay check at the end of the tie.

It would not be straightforward. Connors was limited to sone serve, boosting the inevitable risk of double faults. Navratilova also had an expanded side of the court to aim at, giving her even more of an advantage.

This may have got into the head of Connors early on, with him experiencing a nervy start to proceedings. He would triumph 7-5, 6-2 to swing the pendulum in the series back to the men after King's victory levelled it up. Navratilova was not bothered about this, as she tailed off to the end of the match. After it has climaxed, she stated: "I was extremely stressed. I'm glad it's over."

The fourth matchup is set to take place on December 28 at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai. World number one Sabalenka has been sharing her confidence and ambitions to batter her opponent as she looks to continue her form from last year into 2026. For Kyrgios, he is looking to continue his comeback from the sport. The former Wimbledon finalist was plagued with injuries over these last few years, halting his progress in the sport while keeping him sidelined. He will be hoping for a first singles win since his comeback, as he competes in another exhibition event ahead of the start to the 2026 campaign.