BBC set to broadcast contentious Battle of the Sexes clash between Sabalenka and Kyrgios with pundits confirmed

The Battle of the Sexes clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios has taken the headlines in recent weeks. Their clash is set to take place on the 28th December, with a broadcaster now announced for the event.

Many complaints and criticisms have been launched at the event, with scepticism on how it will work out. The players have been sharing their pre-match thoughts in the hope of getting the better of their opponent as they represent their respected gender on court.

It is a rip-off of the famous clash which occurred in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. After Riggs had comfortably defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1. The 55-year-old had previously set her sights on King but would now get his opportunity to get another win. It was a hugely popular event, with an estimated 90 million people worldwide tuning in to the spectacle. It would turn out to be a huge victory not just for King and women's tennis, but for women's rights. Her 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 triumph proved that women are good enough to get the better of men on the court.

Sabalenka will be hoping for a similar result against the big serving Kyrgios. She will get a slight advantage in the court sizes, with the Aussie having less room to get the ball in. He will also only get one serve, neutralising what would be a huge weapon. Fans can now watch this on the BBC later this month. Claire Boulding will take up presenting duties while Andrew Cotter will lead commentary on the event which is being played out at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai. It will air on BBC One from 15:45 BST.

There is a major boost incoming for Kyrgios who is back on the court after a torrid year of dealing with injuries. The former Wimbledon finalist has struggled to find a consistent patch of form for the last three years. He played in just one Tour-level event in 2023 in Stuttgart before swiftly returning to the sidelines. He would then attempt a feeble return at the start of 2025. After a brief feature in the Brisbane Open, he was knocked out in the opening round of the Australian Open to Brit Jacob Fearnley. He competed in the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami before once more taking a hiatus on the sidelines.

His last appearance on a tennis court came back in July when he teamed up with French veteran Gael Monfils to compete in the DC Open doubles, but were comfortably defeated. The reason for these absences is due his wrist which needed surgery and as he described it, a 'cooked' knee. However, it seems that Kyrgios is coming closer to a return to action. He will be hoping to be fit for the highly anticipated clash against Sabalenka, who has stepped away from the court in recent times.

After culminating her season in another disappointing final defeat at the WTA Finals to Elena Rybakina, she escaped to the Maldives with half of the Tour. After a relaxing spell away from tennis, the Belarusian will now be looking to get back into shape ahead of a big 2026. Her preparation will involve the matchup against Kyrgios. Just like her opponent, she has also pictured herself on Instagram with a racket in hand.

The pair both have busy schedules as the Australian Open continues to crawl closer. Sabalenka will compete in the Brisbane International from 5-11 January. Kyrgios will be attending exhibition. He will compete in the Kooyong Tennis Classic from 13-15 January, just a few days before the Grand Slam commences in Melbourne.