Billie Jean King, a fearless champion for gender equality, made history in 1973, almost 52 years ago, when she took on former men’s No. 1 Bobby Riggs in the iconic “Battle of the Sexes.” Riggs, a 55-year-old self-proclaimed chauvinist, had crushed Margaret Court and bragged that even in retirement, he could beat any top woman player. King accepted the challenge and silenced him with a dominant 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 victory, taking home the $100,000 prize and redefining the sport’s landscape. Now, as Wimbledon heats up and quarterfinal spots hang in the balance, Nick Kyrgios drops a fiery hint as he’s set to join Aryna Sabalenka in a modern-day Battle of the Sexes later this year.

In a thrilling reveal on Wimbledon Unfiltered with Nick Kyrgios on talkSPORT, the Aussie showman set the tennis world buzzing with news of a potential ‘Battle of the Sexes’ clash later this year. Speaking candidly to the host, Kyrgios shared his excitement about a unique showdown with none other than Aryna Sabalenka. “Sabalenka and I are thinking about doing battle of sexes later in the year, where the court is going to be slightly more for me with one serve and you like UTS in an event where I believe it’s like the modern day tennis, how tennis should be. So we are going to do it in a smaller court, I am playing in a slightly smaller than the usual tennis court,” he revealed.

When the host asked for clarification on whether Sabalenka’s side of the court would also be slightly smaller, Kyrgios laughed and replied, “Just slightly.” Then came the kicker: location and nerves. 

“So we got one serve, I am thinking about doing it later in the year in Hong Kong. It’s going to be something that’s I am really nervous about to be honest, she’s her absolute prime right now, and she’s got the wooden legs of me. But I’m still confident that I get it,” he admitted, striking the perfect chord between confidence and respect.

To wrap it up, Kyrgios confirmed that the event would likely unfold under the UTS banner. “But I think I, you know, that’s something that we both upto doing where, I think we are very close and yeah, I am very exited,” he said. 

For those new to it, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) is not your average tennis league; it’s a revolutionary twist on the sport. Founded by renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who’s mentored legends like Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Holger Rune, UTS blends entertainment with elite competition. With intense 40-minute matches, a relaxed code of conduct, live coaching, and mid-match interviews, it offers a raw, immersive experience for fans like never before.

Strategic “UTS cards” inject unpredictability, while fast-paced action keeps audiences on edge. And this year, the excitement only grows. UTS will host multiple events in 2025, including its much-anticipated Grand Final in London and a history-making debut in Asia.

From October 14-15, Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park will welcome the league’s first-ever Asian showdown, and the buzz is already electric. Fans eagerly await a potential blockbuster between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, who are reportedly ready to headline a modern-day Battle of the Sexes.

But while Kyrgios looks ahead to UTS, he hasn’t shied away from voicing strong opinions. The Aussie recently blasted Wimbledon over a major technical glitch, one he claims could’ve crushed a WTA star’s dream, making clear he’s not just a showman, but a vocal protector of fairness in the game.

Nick Kyrgios criticizes Wimbledon’s new automated officiating system

Wimbledon has always stood tall as the temple of tennis tradition, but this year, one major tradition quietly vanished. The All England Club swapped its traditional 300-line judges—known for their crisp uniforms—for a system featuring up to 18 HawkEye cameras on each court, marking a shift from human judgment to Electronic Line Calling (ELC), a system designed with the intention to boost accuracy and pace. However, during the fourth-round clash between Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Britain’s Sonay Kartal, the match exposed the vulnerability of the tech.

With the first set locked at 4-4 and Pavlyuchenkova holding game point at Ad-40, Kartal sent a backhand well past the baseline, yet silence followed. No call. Pavlyuchenkova froze mid-celebration, awaiting confirmation. Umpire Nico Helwerth halted the point. 

Then came an eerie, delayed automated voice: “Stop, stop.” Confusion gripped Centre Court. After conferring with officials, Helwerth announced that the ELC system had glitched mid-point, meaning the point had to be replayed. Television replays made it clear: Kartal’s shot was out. Pavlyuchenkova should’ve won the game. Instead, Kartal took the replayed point and game, moving ahead 5-4.

Nick Kyrgios didn’t mince words when asked about the controversy on talkSPORT’s Wimbledon Unfiltered. “Look, it’s not good enough, in my opinion, to be honest. It’s the greatest tournament that we have in the world, and this is exactly why I thought that Wimbledon shouldn’t be trying to incorporate the electronic line-calls – I feel like they almost rushed it this year,” the Aussie firebrand said bluntly.

Kyrgios continued, calling out the potential cost of that single misstep. “So I can completely understand the frustrations from Pavlyuchenkova, and luckily she gets through and she wins. But what happens if she doesn’t win that first set and she ends up losing the match? This is where the problems can really start happening. But, look, they should have just kept the line umpires because that’s where the content is as well.”

Now, as Wimbledon marches into its business end, all eyes are fixed on today’s high-stakes quarterfinal featuring Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka. Stay locked in with EssentiallySports‘ Live Blog for every twist, turn, and controversy from the grass-court battleground.