The much-TK'd "Battle of the Sexes" match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka was won Sunday by the Aussie in straight sets.
The two players promised "a show" in the months leading up to the event at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, but the marquee meeting took a while to warm up, both literally and figuratively, as the players adjusted to its modified rules. The court was nearly 10% smaller on Sabalenka's side, and both players serving once per point instead of the usual two.
The unique playing arena saw the two players trade breaks twice in the first set, before Kyrgios claimed the last three games. He also came from a break down in the second set of what was ultimately a 6-3, 6-3 win.
But saying afterwards that the match was more competitive than the scoreboard indicated, Kyrgios claimed there was no need to call himself the "champ."
