Kyrgios has lengthy been a polarising determine within the sport, given his chequered historical past on and off the court docket.
The Australian has obtained a number of sanctions over the course of his profession for inappropriate behaviour and fiery outbursts.
There have additionally been allegations of home violence and accusations of sexist feedback.
Kyrgios pleaded responsible to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2023, then needed to distance himself from controversial influencer Andrew Tate in 2024.
His latest feedback about enjoying Sabalenka – witheringly questioning on one podcast if he would even need to “strive 100%” to win – has led to considerations the occasion will gasoline misogyny.
In a press launch asserting the occasion, Kyrgios’ tone was markedly in another way.
“When the world primary challenges you, you reply the decision. I’ve obtained huge respect for Aryna; she’s a powerhouse and a real champion,” he mentioned.
Sabalenka doesn’t appear to assume the match may have any detrimental affect on the notion of girls’s sports activities, merely saying on the US Open she thinks it’s a “cool concept”.
Catherine Whitaker, co-host of the Tennis Podcast, believes the other.
“I see completely nothing to be gained for ladies’s tennis – I see solely bleakness,” she advised BBC Sport.
“It is a crass industrial enterprise and a automobile for one of the vital outspoken misogynists in tennis who simply needs consideration.
“If Sabalenka wins, she beats a person who’s unfit and has been a complete irrelevance for numerous years. What does she win? Nothing. Until she wins 6-0 6-0, individuals will solely discover ammunition to fireplace at ladies’s tennis.
“If Kyrgios wins, he and others of the identical thoughts will declare it legitimises all the things he is already spewing out. It is disgusting to be giving him a platform.
“I discover it totally ludicrous that is going to be occurring in 2025.”
