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Aryna Sabalenka to face Nick Kyrgios in Battle of the Sexes tennis showdown
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios announced Tuesday that they will be playing in a “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match next month.
The two tennis stars will face off in a modified exhibition on Dec. 28 in Dubai in front of 17,000 fans at Coca-Cola Arena.
The name of the Sabalenka-Kyrgios exhibition was borrowed from the 1973 match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, which King won in straight sets in the Houston Astrodome.
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(Left) Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Polina Kudermetova of Russia in the second round of the women’s singles at the U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, on Aug. 27, 2025. (Right) Nick Kyrgios of Australia plays during his match against James Duckworth of Australia and Aleksandar Vukic of Australia in the first round of the men’s doubles at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on Jan. 16, 2025. (Mike Frey/Imagn Images;Mike Frey/Imagn Images)
The modifications are that Kyrgios will only get one serve, and that he would be hitting toward a smaller side of the court.
Since the end of the 2022 tennis season, Kyrgios has played in just five events, largely because of injuries — one in 2023 and four in 2025. He has since made a name for himself in the broadcast booth.
Nick Kyrgios returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov during a match on Day 3 of the World Tennis League at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
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“I cannot wait to get back out on court,” Kyrgios said in an Instagram story. “Honestly, I’m feeling amazing. I never thought I would be back in this position, being able to travel the world, see my fans and play some amazing tennis.”
Due to his lack of play, Kyrgios, who was once ranked as high as No. 13, is currently ranked No. 652.
Both players will also take part in an exhibition in New York on Dec. 8, but not against each other: Sabalenka will play Naomi Osaka, and Kyrgios will face Tommy Paul.
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns a shot against Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, during the women’s finals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, including each of the last two U.S. Opens. She also made the final in both this year’s Australian and French Opens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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In their return from the NHL’s holiday break, the Capitals visit the Devils on Saturday night to begin a stretch of 22 games in 41 days before the Olympics.
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UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor almost had a perfect night in his squad’s dominant 57-20 win over Florida International at the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium Friday.
Why wasn’t it a perfect night for Traylor? He couldn’t avoid getting drenched.
Traylor, 57, knew what was coming as the clock was winding down in the fourth quarter. He was about to get doused with water by his players.
So, the head coach took off toward the end of the sideline, hoping to escape the oncoming shower.
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UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor tries to run away from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) to avoid a Gatorade bath after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The attempt to escape was futile as Traylor made it to the end of the sideline, turned around and saw wide receiver Jamel Hardy Jr. coming after him. Traylor was held up by a reporter and then got drenched.
In a last-ditch effort to avoid the water, Traylor fell down onto a ServPro mat near the sideline, which ended up being costly. Traylor was mobbed by his players and found himself at the bottom of an impromptu dogpile, creating a hilarious scene.
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UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor gets a Gatorade bath from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
While at the bottom of the dogpile, Traylor got another bucket of water dumped on him by defensive lineman Kaian Roberts-Day.
Aside from unsuccessfully evading his players in celebration, Traylor had a good night. UTSA won handily in its sixth consecutive bowl appearance.
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FIU went up 14-0 early, but UTSA stormed back to tie at 14 before the first quarter ended, and it never looked back.
UTSA had a 310-93 advantage in total yards in the first half. Quarterback Owen McCown threw three touchdown passes, and running back Will Henderson III scored three times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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