Aryna Sabalenka claims Dubai exhibition rivaled a Grand Slam final

The neon lights of the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai provided a backdrop that felt more like a Las Vegas residency than a traditional tennis tournament. In the stands, the presence of global football icons Ronaldo and Kaká signaled that this was no ordinary day on the tour.

But as the dust settled on the highly publicized “Battle of the Sexes” between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, the conversation shifted from the spectacle on the court to the vision for the sport’s future.

For Sabalenka, the world-ranked powerhouse, this wasn’t just a one-off exhibition; it was a blueprint for how tennis can capture the world’s imagination.

As she entered the press room, still buzzing from the high-octane energy of the 17,000-seat sell-out, Sabalenka was quick to dismiss any notion that the event was a mere gimmick.

For her, the experience was about pushing boundaries and proving that the appetite for innovative matchups is reaching a fever pitch.

“I really hope for me the one the only goal I had is make sure that whoever came to watch whoever was watching on the TV enjoyed it,” Sabalenka stated, emphasizing that the entertainment value was her primary metric for success.

To her, the match was a successful “laboratory test” for a sport that is often accused of being too rigid in its traditions. However, sespite the excitement, the event was not without its detractors.

Critics on social media and in the sporting press questioned the modified rules, including a 9% reduction of Sabalenka’s side of the court and a single-serve limit, suggesting such changes were an “awful twist” that undermined the competitive integrity of the game.

Sabalenka, however, met this criticism with a defiant smile and a clear message.

“I honestly I don’t I don’t understand how people were able to find something negative in this event,” Sabalenka told the gathered media. “I think for WTA I think I just showed that um I mean I was playing a great tennis it was it was entertaining match.”

She pushed back against the idea that the “Battle” was a lopsided affair, pointing to the intensity of the rallies and the tactical adjustments she was forced to make against Kyrgios’s blistering pace.

“I showed a great tennis it wasn’t like 6-0, 6-0. It was a great fight it was interesting to watch it brought more eyes on tennis,” she insisted.

To Sabalenka, the “eyes on tennis” were the ultimate victory, suggesting that the sport needs to stop being its own worst enemy when it comes to experimental formats.

Her most striking claim, however, was about the sheer scale of the attention the match received. While the Grand Slams remain the historical pillars of the sport, Sabalenka argued that the digital and cultural footprint of the Dubai event rivaled the biggest moments on the ATP and WTA calendars.

“The idea behind it is to help our sport grow and show tennis from from a different side that tennis events can be more fun more entertain entertaining,” she explained, leaning into the narrative of growth. “And we can make it almost as big as a Grand Slam matches because I think the attention that uh we build up uh to this event was uh not less than the Grand Slam final.”

That comparison, equating an inter-gender exhibition to the pinnacle of a Grand Slam final, may rankle purists, but it highlights Sabalenka’s belief in the power of “spectacle” to drive the sport forward.

She sees a future where the traditional tour and these high-concept “battles” can coexist, with each feeding the other to reach new, younger audiences.

For the Belarusian champion, the match also served as a unique training ground.

Playing against a male opponent of Kyrgios’s caliber allowed her to see the game through a different lens, one she believes will give her an edge when she returns to her regular hunt for major trophies. She was so encouraged by the experience that she is already eyeing a rematch.

“Next time I play him, I already know the tactics. I know his strengths and weaknesses, and it’s going to be a better match for sure,” she vowed. “I love revenge. I love to challenge myself, and I’d love to play again.”