Swiatek says No Need for Men vs Women in Tennis
Iga Swiatek has made it clear she has little interest in tennis being framed as a contest between men and women, following the recent ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition involving Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios.
The exhibition match, played in Dubai on December 28, saw Kyrgios beat Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 under adjusted rules. Both players were limited to one serve, while Sabalenka played on a slightly smaller court.
Despite the attention the match generated online, Swiatek said she did not watch it and does not feel drawn to that type of spectacle. Speaking during a Team Poland press conference at the United Cup, the world No. 2 explained her position clearly.
“No, I haven’t watched, because I don’t watch stuff like that. I think for sure it attracted, like, a lot of attention,” Swiatek said.
Swiatek went further, suggesting she does not see the need for tennis to create direct competition between men and women, especially given the differences in the tours and formats.
The Sabalenka-Kyrgios match was labelled the fourth ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in tennis history. The concept dates back to 1973, when former American player Bobby Riggs faced Margaret Court and later Billie Jean King. Riggs beat Court before losing to King in the most famous match of the series. Another edition took place in 1992, when Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova under hybrid rules.
