Nick Kyrgios defeats Aryna Sabalenka in latest ‘battle of the sexes’

Thank you for joining us (especially those in Australia in the wee hours of the morning) for this exhibition match.

It won’t be long before we’re blogging real matches in the AO. We’ll see you right away.

Good morning (or good night)!

Many criticisms of this exhibition match focused on it being a “lose-lose” match for women’s tennis. “What does Sabalenka get from such success?” many asked.

Well, aside from the huge payday, the women’s world number one told the crowd that it was good training ahead of the upcoming tennis season.

“It was a very good level (of tennis). I hit a lot of great shots. I really enjoyed the show. I feel like the next time I face him, I know all his tactics and his strength,” she said in her post-match on-court interview.

“Of course it was different. I had to make some adjustments. Playing against the guys is completely different. Everything is faster. It was a great test of my fitness. I hope I can recover well.

“I’m pretty much ready for the season after this game. I hope to bring people some joy during the season.”

“It was a very tough battle, my serve was broken several times. She’s a great competitor,” Nick Kyrgios told the crowd after her victory.

“It was a very tough battle and it went back and forth.

He added that “this is all the world has been talking about for the last six months” (although it was only announced two months and some months ago) and that “it could have gone either way.”

“Of course I was nervous, I don’t think many people would put their hand up to take that position,” he said.

“I was there under the pump.”

Aryna Sabalenka said the exhibition was good for her fitness, with the hit against a man “very different from tennis” than she is used to.

“I hope I can recover well now,” she told the crowd.

“I hope I can bring a lot of joy to people this season”

“I think Nick is happy it’s over,” commentators exclaimed as the Australian collapsed after the victory.

Kyrgios looked exhausted after his 6-3, 6-3 victory. He has been absent from the circuit for a while.

Sabalenka then told the crowd that she really enjoyed the show and was happy to have made Kyrgios as tired as he was.

And there you have it. Nick Kyrgios won the second set and with it, the match. He officially won the last “Battle of the Sexes” 6-3, 6-3.

Exactly as expected. With the whole thing wrapped up in an hour and a half.

Aryna Sabalenka does everything she can to stay in the match and get the crowd on her side.

She saved two match points but he has another one now.

The Australian leads 6-3, 5-3 40-30. This is his second match point.

This match could end very soon.

Sabalenka looked confident as she led 3-1 in the second set, but Nick Kyrgios regained control in the next four games.

He leads 5-3.

Now it’s a strategic timeout with Sabalenka calling.

Instead of sitting down and catching her breath, she danced the macarena on camera instead.

This is the Sabalenka we all know… She leads the second set 3-1 in the second set after Kyrgios won the first 6-3.

Oh yes, there is the Australian we know.

After Aryna Sabalenka won the fourth game of the second set by hitting the ball very close to the line, Kyrgios disagreed and tried to argue that the ball was out.

The president didn’t want it. He didn’t look impressed when he started the next game.

Sabalenka leads 3-1 in the second set. And let out a scream to the crowd as she won the next two points.

Aryna Sabalenka looked frustrated as she hit the ball to deny her the fourth game of the second set.

She leads 2-1, with the pair locked at a tie. This would be an important lead for her, if she could get it.

A few times, Aryna Sabalenka surprised Nick Kyrgios in front of a roaring crowd.

It’s fair to say that viewers are getting what they expected. It’s not exactly a laughing matter with the two really going at it, Kyrgios with the expected lead.

Sabalenka broke Kyrgios’ four-match streak and finally got one back.

She hit the ball short, forcing Kyrgios to head towards goal, with the Australian unable to return it.

It’s just one game into the second set.

Nick Kyrgios seems to have gotten used to the smaller pitch (Sabalenka’s) and is moving very well.

Where he had given up easy points in the first games of the first set, he now hits them as he wants.

After winning the first set, he won the first game of the second and led 6-3, 1-0.

A few moments ago it was 3-3. Then, after a quick break, Nick Kyrgios won the next three straight games to take the first set 6-3.

There were some good shots from Sabalenka in the mix, with Kyrgios looking visibly impressed with a few hits. But he really wasn’t challenged much in the second half of the set.

As expected, the Australian is in front.

Nick Kyrgios took the lead in the first set 4-3, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final game.

Both seem to feel it physically, perhaps the Australian a little more.

“This ball would have gone in if the court was 9% bigger,” the commentators said as Kygrios knocked the ball out.

He still won the game on the next point.

It’s hard to think that this is a real match with modified rules that change the game that much, while seeing Kyrgios ahead.

Without a double fault – since both teams get a serve each – they must be clean and precise from the first shot.

So far, everyone has given themselves points with mistakes.

It’s good training on the eve of the next tennis season.

For now, it’s two games each.

Aryna Sabalenka won the opening match against Nick Kygrios quite comfortably.

Known for her power, she fired the ball past her opponent when he seemed to be feeling the match.

Kyrgios seemed to be adjusting to having less space, with Sabalenka’s side of the court being 9% smaller.

Then he won the second and third games without looking too challenged.

Sabalenka looked frustrated as she sent the ball into the net, giving Kygrios the first point of the third game. This could be a quick first set for the Australian.