Tennis is about to get wild — the 2025 edition of Battle of the Sexes is set to blow up screens when Belarus’s world-number-one Aryna Sabalenka faces off against Australian showman Nick Kyrgios in a one-night exhibition on 28 December 2025 in Dubai. And yes — it’ll be broadcast live on BBC One for those who want front-row seats to the spectacle. Radio Times+2AOL+2
It’s not your standard tennis match. The rules are adjusted: Kyrgios — a former top-20 player returning from injury — will get only one serve per point and must hit into a slightly smaller court on Sabalenka’s side (reduced by 9%), presumably to level the playing field. Organizers believe these tweaks give the reigning women’s No. 1 a fighting chance. Radio Times+2Tennis.com+2
By day, Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who’s dominated the WTA Tour; by night, she now steps into a match loaded with drama, gender rivalry, and nostalgia for the legendary 1973 clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Sabalenka herself says she’s honored to carry the torch — representing women’s tennis and challenging stereotypes in a match that blends sport and spectacle. PR Newswire+1
But Kyrgios isn’t rolling over. Once ranked inside the ATP’s top 15 and a 2022 Grand Slam finalist, he’s making a comeback after lengthy injury layoffs, and has publicly predicted he’ll win — even without a full effort. He’s calling this fight not just a match, but entertainment. “I’m not just here to play, I’m here to entertain,” he’s said. The Guardian+2Yahoo Sports+2
For fans, the stakes are more than just a win or loss. It’s a spectacle — a modern-day clash of power, ego, gender, and legacy. Sabalenka sees it as a chance to prove dominance beyond ranks; Kyrgios views it as his dramatic return to the spotlight. Either way — it’s guaranteed drama, trash-talk, explosive serves (at least from Kyrgios), and the burning question: can the rules really make things fair?
If you’ve got BBC One — don’t miss it. The broadcast starts at 15:45 GMT, with commentary, hype, and a shot at tennis history. For everyone else, it promises to be the kind of showdown that gets people talking — long after the final point.
