Aryna Sabalenka has mentioned she will be able to beat Nick Kyrgios once they play in opposition to one another subsequent January, even promising to “kick his ass”.
The Belarusian, who has simply made it by to the US Open the place she is defending her title, will face the tennis unhealthy boy in a match that may mimic some of the well-known showdowns within the sport’s historical past – Billie Jean King’s 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs on the Houston Astrodome.
Sabalenka mentioned the match with Kyrgios, anticipated to happen earlier than the Australian Open in January, was a “good idea” and shall be “spectacular to watch”.
“It’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick. Like he said in another interview, that I genuinely think that I’m going to win, and I’ll definitely go out there, and I’ll try my best to kick his ass (laughter),” she mentioned.
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Nick Kyrgios. Pic: Reuters
She was responding to Kyrgios, who, earlier within the week, indulged in some tennis trash discuss when he claimed he wouldn’t should play at 100 per cent to beat the ladies’s world primary.
Sabalenka, 27, has received three grand slams and likewise reached three Wimbledon semi-finals. Kyrgios, 30, has received no majors and reached the Wimbledon closing in 2022, the place he misplaced in 4 units.
It has been reported that the pair might play in Hong Kong in January, simply earlier than the Australian Open, however Sabalenka mentioned the time and site of the eagerly anticipated contest haven’t but been confirmed.
“Definitely if we’re going to bring it, we’re going to bring it to somewhere where it’s going to be a lot of people watching, and we’re gonna put a lot of pressure on Nick.”
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Aryna Sabalenka in motion throughout her quarter closing match in opposition to China’s Qinwen Zheng. Pic: Reuters
Talking on the ‘Tea with Bublik podcast’, with fellow participant Alexander Bublik earlier this week, Kyrgios mentioned that “Sabalenka is awesome, she’s such a character”.
“I think she’s the type of player who genuinely believes she’s going to win,” he added.
Sabalenka secured her place within the US Open closing with a commanding victory over Jessica Pegula within the 2025 US Open semi-finals.
The match shall be a modern-day replay of the legendary conflict between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, 52 years in the past
King, 29, triumphed over the 55-year-old Riggs with a straight-sets victory of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, and received $100,000.
Previous to that, Riggs had defeated Margaret Courtroom, who was the world’s top-ranked feminine participant on the time.
