Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,500 at the Coca-Cola Arena, Kyrgios secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory in a contest that blended high-level shot-making with pure entertainment.
Modified Rules & "The Equalizer"
To level the playing field between the ATP and WTA stars, the match featured several unique "equalizer" rules:
The Smaller Court: Sabalenka’s side of the court was reduced in size by 9%, forcing Kyrgios to hit into a tighter target.
One Serve Only: Both players were restricted to a single serve per point, eliminating the safety net of a second serve—a rule that surprisingly favored Kyrgios’s high-velocity "howitzers."
Timeouts: Players were allowed strategic 60-second timeouts, which Sabalenka famously used to lead the crowd in a dance to the Macarena.
Match Breakdown
The first set was a back-and-forth affair until the score reached 3-3. Kyrgios managed to break the Belarusian's serve after she committed two consecutive faults under the single-serve pressure. The Australian then held firm to take the opener 6-3.
In the second set, Sabalenka showed why she dominated the 2025 Grand Slam circuit, racing to a 3-1 lead. However, despite looking visibly fatigued and drenched in sweat, Kyrgios dug deep. Utilizing a mix of "junk tennis," cheeky drop shots, and his trademark power, he won five consecutive games to wrap up the match in approximately 70 minutes.
Post-Match Reactions
Despite his victory, Kyrgios was full of praise for his opponent:
"Honestly, it was a really tough match. She is a hell of a player and such a great champion. I had to strap in because she was putting the pressure on and hitting some amazing shots."
Sabalenka, who took the loss in stride, is already eyeing a rematch:
"I really enjoyed the show. I feel like next time I play him, I’ll know the tactics and his weaknesses better. It was great preparation for the Australian Open."
While critics debated the cultural significance of the match compared to the original 1973 Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs encounter, there was no denying the commercial success of the event, which trended globally across social media platforms.