"Billie Jean was fighting for something so important": Former British No.1 calls Sabalenka-Kyrgios Battle of the Sexes a 'gimmick' match

Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski has hit out and become the latest to do so at the Battle of the Sexes match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios which is due to take place on December 28 in the UAE.

The highly discussed exhibition match scheduled for 28 December has been secured for worldwide broadcast rights despite being criticised heavily by certain parties. The BBC for instance will stage it on their platform. The event draws comparisons to the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs which was a big deal for equality and recognition for women's tennis.

The legend herself has spoken about it recently and said it isn't the same with the marked difference between Sabalenka and Kyrgios now not really the case. While prize money isn't fully equal yet, it is getting there and Sabalenka is seen perhaps as a bigger commercial draw.

She is one of the highest earning female athletes on the planet and is World No.1 in her field. Not compared to Kyrgios who last struck real relevance in reaching the Wmbledon final before injury has widely shut down his career. Both have been friendly and cordial to each other throughout the build-up and appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored for instance to try and speak it up albeit it also became criticised as a vehicle to pan trans inclusion.

Greg Rusedski speaking to PA said it was merely a gimmick and with all of the additions such as different sized courts and serves that it is not real tennis and what is the overall end game to it all.

"I think it’s a gimmick. Billie Jean was fighting for something so important and she was really the catalyst for everything that’s happened in the women’s game to date," he said to the Press Association as per The Independent.

"It’s not two serves, it’s not the real tennis. I just don’t know what it stands for. The TV networks have picked it up, but what is the crowd going to be like in the arena? For me, it will be a success if it brings your non-tennis fans to the sport and gets more people playing tennis."

These were comments also semi echoed this week by Eva Lys, the current German No.1 who lauded Sabalenka for it but did admit herself that is was nothing more than a PR stunt in speaking to Sport1 earlier this week.

“I have mixed feelings about it, but generally speaking, I think Aryna Sabalenka is very good for women’s tennis. She pushes the boundaries and has moments that are unusual in the sport.

“It’s no secret that it’s a huge PR stunt to draw more attention to tennis. Who else could you pull something like that off with? Nick Kyrgios, of course. I think they’re a perfect match.

“You have to take it with a grain of salt. Tennis is still a sport that’s taken a bit too seriously. You get matches like this in all the other sports that aren’t taken so seriously.

“We’ll have to wait and see what the reactions will be. I can’t say whether it will be great for the sport or controversial — but it’s a start to making the sport more popular in some way.”