Sabalenka, Kyrgios set for rare battle

MANILA, Philippines — Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios will meet in the “Battle of the Sexes” on Sunday, but the only similarity between the Dubai exhibition and the historic 1973 match is the name, says Billie Jean King.

Women’s world Nio. 1 Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, takes on injury-prone Australian Kyrgios in a highly publicized showdown that has divided tennis fans.

The title “Battle of the Sexes” harks back to the meeting between King and Bobby Riggs in September 1973, in what was a game-changing moment for the sport.

Back then, there was far more at stake with the nascent women’s professional tour, set up by King, fighting for its legitimacy and prize money for female players still far lower than for the men.

Beyond the tennis court, women struggled for equal rights in almost every aspect of life.

“It’s not the same thing,” King, now 82, told BBC.

“Ours was about social change... This one is not. Mine was really political. It was rough, culturally, what was coming in with it. I knew I had to beat him for societal change. I had a lot of reasons to win.”

King, one of the all-time greats of the women’s game who was at the peak of her powers, saw off the 55-year-old Riggs, a top player in his day, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in Houston.

Few, though, believe Sabalenka can repeat that success even against Kyrgios, who once reached 13 in the world.