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Ahead of their Battle of the Sexes tennis match later this month, Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios both said they don’t think trans athletes should compete against biological women.
The tennis stars are playing an exhibition match that will feature modifications in which Kyrgios will get just one serve and hit towards a smaller side of the court.
The changes make sense, given Sabalenka’s thoughts on women versus biological men in sports.
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Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the women’s final against Amanda Anisimova (USA) (not pictured) of the 2025 US Open tennis championships at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Mike Frey/Imagn Images)
“I have nothing against them, but I feel like they still have a huge advantage over women,” Sabalenka told Piers Morgan on Tuesday. “I think it’s just not fair for women to compete against biological men. It’s not fair. Women work their whole lives to reach their limits, and then they have to compete against a man, who is biologically much stronger. So for me, I don’t agree with that kind of thing in sports.”
Kyrgios added that he felt “exactly the same.”
Sabalenka’s thoughts echo those of tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who, despite widespread criticism of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, has maintained her stance that girls and women should not compete against biological males.
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 at the Houston Astrodome.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts against Amanda Anisimova of the United States during the women’s final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, September 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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Since the end of the 2022 tennis season, Kyrgios has only played five events, largely due to injuries – one in 2023 and four in 2025. He has since made a name for himself in the broadcast booth.
“I can’t wait to get back on the pitch,” Kyrgios said in an Instagram story. “Honestly, I feel amazing. I never thought I would get back to this position, being able to travel the world, see my fans and play incredible tennis.”
Due to his lack of play, Kyrgios, who was once ranked 13th, is currently ranked 652nd.
Sabalenka and Kyrgios played exhibition matches in New York earlier this week. Sabalenka faced Naomi Osaka, while Kyrgios faced Tommy Paul.
(Susan Mullane-Imagn Images)
Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, including the last two US Opens. She also reached the final of the Australian and French Opens this year.
