SYDNEY — As assured as he’s about defeating Aryna Sabalenka within the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” subsequent month, Nick Kyrgios admits to feeling a little bit of strain.
High-ranked Sabalenka and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios earlier this week confirmed the date and venue — Dec. 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates — for the tennis exhibition.
“I used to be in Hong Kong just lately and a whole lot of the male gamers have been like, ‘Look, you are representing all of us.’ So right here I’m within the firing line once more,” Kyrgios advised Australian Related Press on Friday. “I am not a stranger to taking the warmth from the media, however I am excited regardless of the consequence could also be.
“I’ll go on the market and present the world that nearly as good as she is, she’s bought some weaknesses.”
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The “Battle of the Sexes” title was borrowed from the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs — which King received in straight units within the Houston Astrodome.
Kyrgios, who has performed solely six tour-level matches within the final three years due to wrist and knee accidents, mentioned he’d be hitting towards a smaller facet of the courtroom — nearly 10% smaller than what Sabalenka can be aiming at — giving him much less room to hit winners.
Each gamers are set to function earlier in an exhibition in New York on Dec. 8 however not towards one another: Sabalenka will play Naomi Osaka and Kyrgios will face Tommy Paul.
Kyrgios mentioned he’d be giving Sabalenka full respect.
“Clearly you’ve got bought one probably, I believe, one of many best of all time girls’s gamers and he or she’s not even nearly near scratching the floor of what she will obtain,” he advised AAP. “I believe she wins a number of extra Grand Slams.
“She’s truthfully been speaking a bit bit extra about this match than I’ve, however I am able to take the problem. I’ll go on the market and, in all honesty, it is a whole lot of strain for me, too.”
Having mentioned all that, and acknowledging Sabalenka would have many of the crowd on her facet, Kyrgios did seek advice from a profession CV that locations him in a uncommon group of gamers to have overwhelmed all the so-called Huge 4: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He was solely the second participant to win his first assembly with Nadal (2014 Wimbledon), Federer (2015 Madrid) and Djokovic (2017 Acapulco)
“Look, I am very assured,” he mentioned. “I imply, look there’s been 16 those that have ever walked the earth which have overwhelmed the Huge Three and the Huge 4.
“So I really feel like, look, I am fairly assured however on the identical time I am very conscious she’s harmful.”
Regardless of a rating of No. 652 due to his very long time on the sideline, the 30-year-old Australian was assured he’d be match sufficient to play effectively in a month.
“I’ll be prepared,” he mentioned. “I be ok with it.”
