Aryna Sabalenka has sent another fiery warning to her Battle of the Sexes opponent Nick Kyrgios ahead of the pair’s highly anticipated exhibition clash next year.
The Australian firebrand announced that he would be facing off with Sabalenka last week, after months of hinting at the possibility of taking her on for a match in the style of Bobby Riggs’ famed challenge against Billie Jean King in 1973.
Riggs fell to the then-women’s No 2 52 years ago, but Kyrgios has been bullish about his changes against the US Open champion in build-up, mocking the idea that he might have to try anywhere close to 100 per cent.
The former Wimbledon finalist also added that he believed Sabalenka ‘genuinely’ thought she might have a chance at winning their match-up – which in turn, the world No 1 agreed with wholeheartedly.
On the heels of winning in New York last weekend, Sabalenka remained extremely confident about her chances as she sat down with podcast host Jay Shetty.
When asked to send a message to her future opponent, Sabalenka wasted no time putting on her game face and letting Kyrgios know about her intentions in the tie.
Aryna Sabalenka to Nick Kyrgios on the upcoming Battle of the Sexes: “Well, Nick, you gotta be ready. You’d better be ready. Yeah.. I’m gonna kick your ass man. 😂I think the ATP is gonna cancel the battle.”
📹Jay Shetty Podcast (Youtube) pic.twitter.com/jqf2NRJQ1Z
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Aryna Sabalenka has sent Nick Kyrgios a fiery warning ahead of their Battle of the Sexes game
Sabalenka and the firebrand Australian star are good friends – but that will be put aside for their eye-catching exhibition
The US Open champion even referenced fellow world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in her cheeky taunt
‘Well Nick, you’ve got to be ready,’ she said. ‘You better be ready. Yeah – I’m going to kick your a**.’
Kyrgios has been positing himself as a ‘representative’ of the men’s game – something that fellow player Alexander Bublik was quick to say he wasn’t keen on Kyrgios doing – but Sabalenka went on to suggest that he might not be the right champion for the ATP.
‘I think the ATP are going to cancel the battle,’ Sabalenka said laughingly. ‘They’re going to be like, “if it’s happening, let it be like Jannik (Sinner, world No 2), or Carlos (Alcaraz, world No 1), but not Nick.’
The trash-talk between the pair is to be taken in good-humour, with the pair both stressing that they are good friends.
Sabalenka and Kyrgios are also both represented by Evolve, the player agency established by fellow WTA professional Naomi Osaka.
However, both Kyrgios and Sabalenka will hope their words ring true when they step onto court on January 6.
The four-time Grand Slam champion will be likely be the more match fit competitor, with Kygrios having seen much of the last two years pockmarked with injury concerns.
The 30-year-old has only won one competitive singles match since the end of 2022, and has not stepped onto court this year since the Miami Open in March, despite hinting at appearances at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open using his protected ranking.
Sabalenka meanwhile will end the year as world No 1, having featured in three out of four of the season’s Grand Slam finals.
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Aryna Sabalenka fires x-rated warning at Nick Kyrgios as she reignites war of words over Battle of the Sexes exhibition