Despite being an undeniable talent, Aryna Sabalenka has lost a ton of fans heading into the 2026 season.
When it comes to overall production, Sabalenka is undoubtedly one of the best in the business. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion and has handled the pressure of being the No. 1 ranked player in the world. So why are fans angry with her? Well, that’s because she faced Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match.
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Kyrgios, a former Wimbledon finalist, beat Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Fans weren’t necessarily disappointed by Sabalenka’s performance. What bothered them was that she agreed to confront Kyrgios. They think it was a terrible look for women tennis.
August 27, 2025; Flushing, New York, United States; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Polina Kudermetova of Russia in the second round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
“Congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka for embarrassing women’s tennis,” one fan wrote on X.
“Sorry but I will never forgive Aryna Sabalenka for what she did to women’s tennis,” commented a second fan. “I lost all the respect I had for her.”
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“A big thank you to Aryna Sabalenka for taking women’s tennis back 52 years,” said another fan. “I hope it was worth the money and the publicity.”
“Aryna Sabalenka is completely embarrassing the whole of women’s tennis in an effort to fuel her own ego, victim complex and bank balance,” one social media user added.
Kyrgios hits back at Sabalenka criticism.
Shortly after Kyrgios beat Sabalenka in straight sets, he called out those ripping the reigning US Open champion apart.
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“Like I said before this whole event, whatever role I had to play, it was another great opportunity to come here. She broke my serve a few times. And honestly, I had to tie her up because she was putting the pressure on, hitting incredible shots. I would love to play her again and show off her talent and also what I have left in the tank. Ultimately, it was a very tough battle and there were breaks both ways.” » Kyrgios said, via Reuters. “To see someone as great as Aryna here, and myself, it’s truly a sight and I think it’s a big step forward for the sport of tennis.”
Do you think Sabalenka made a mistake participating in the “Battle of the Sexes” match?
This story was originally published by The yarn on December 30, 2025, where he first appeared in the Tennis section. Add The Spun as Favorite source by clicking here.
