'Great stepping stone for tennis': Kyrgios after exhibition match win vs Sabalenka

Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in Dubai on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Nick Kyrgios won the latest version of the "Battle of the Sexes" in tennis, beating top-ranked women's player Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match that represented light entertainment rather than another landmark moment for gender equality.

There was laughing and joking between the players, some under-arm serves, and even some dancing from Sabalenka during a timeout at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. "This is a great stepping stone for the sport of tennis," the Australian said. Sabalenka said she would like to play Kyrgios again to exact revenge.

"Really enjoyed the show," she said, "and I feel like next time I play him I'm going to know the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it's going to be a better match, for sure."

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever