Nick Kyrgios claimed a commanding victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in their highly anticipated Battle of the Sexes showdown in Dubai.
The Australian star swept past the Belarusian 6-3, 6-3 at the Coca Cola Arena in what proved to be a fascinating cross-gender contest.
Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Kaka were among the spectators watching the exhibition unfold.
The match had been generating buzz for months, with Kyrgios and Sabalenka agreeing to the encounter earlier this year.
Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka have revealed they would be open to playing again
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It proved controversial from the outset, with special rules implemented to level the playing field between the 2022 Wimbledon finalist and the reigning women's world number one.
Both players were restricted to using only their first serve throughout the contest, removing the safety net of a second attempt.
Perhaps more significantly, Sabalenka's side of the court was reduced by nine per cent, giving Kyrgios less space to target with his powerful groundstrokes.
The format was a best-of-three sets affair, with BBC One broadcasting the entire spectacle live to viewers across the country.
The coverage wasn't without its hiccups, though, as technical difficulties interrupted the broadcast at points during the match.
Aryna Sabalenka lost in straight sets to Nick Kyrgios
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These rule modifications clearly affected both competitors, with the pair struggling at times on their own serves as they adapted to the unusual conditions.
Sabalenka in particular refused to dial back the pace on her deliveries, which would prove costly as the match progressed.
Sabalenka held her opening service game but quickly looked vulnerable against Kyrgios, who unleashed some ferocious shots when opportunities arose.
The Australian broke her serve in the second game to seize early control, though Sabalenka hit back immediately to level at 2-2.
The pattern continued with breaks flying back and forth, the score reaching 3-3 before Kyrgios found another gear.
He broke Sabalenka for a third time when she squandered a 40-15 advantage, then held firm to move within touching distance of the set.
The Aussie wrapped up the opener 6-3 with relative ease.
Nick Kyrgios is coming back from a lengthy injury lay-off
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Kyrgios's level dipped early in the second set, allowing Sabalenka to surge into a 3-1 lead after overturning an initial deficit.
The match featured plenty of entertainment, with Kyrgios deploying several underarm serves and at one point disputing a line call with the umpire.
Afterwards, Sabalenka was keen to run it back, saying: "I love to challenge myself and I'd love to play again. Next time when I play him, I already know the tactics, his strengths and weaknesses, and it will be a better match for sure."
Kyrgios was equally enthusiastic about a rematch, admitting: "Honestly, I would love to play her again and showcase her talent and what I have left in the tank."
And that's all she wrote!
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 28, 2025
Nick Kyrgios defeats Aryna Sabalenka to win the Battle of the Sexes 👏 pic.twitter.com/9Yysdt6F5V
The Australian also revealed just how much the occasion meant to him given his recent injury battles.
"I'm just glad, from where I was, I wasn't able to use my right hand. To even get back out here and compete with Sabalenka, honestly it's emotional," he said.