Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek said Saturday she saw no point in the “Battle of the Sexes” match and that women’s tennis had nothing left to prove.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios clashed a week ago in a highly publicized and controversial exhibition match in Dubai.
Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 with Sabalenka’s side of the court reduced by nine percent in a bid to limit his advantage in power and speed.
It bore little resemblance to the landmark 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
At the time, the stakes were much higher with the nascent women’s professional tour, established by King, vying for legitimacy and prize money.
“I didn’t watch because I don’t watch stuff like that,” world number two Swiatek said in Sydney, where she opens her season at the United Cup.
“I think it certainly got a lot of attention. It was entertainment, but I wouldn’t say it had anything to do with social change or any other important topic.
“I think the name was exactly the same as the match against Billie Jean King in 1973. That’s it. There were no more similarities because I feel like women’s tennis stands on its own right now.
“We have so many great athletes and great stories to showcase that we don’t necessarily need to compare ourselves to men’s tennis.
“Honestly, there doesn’t need to be any competition.”
The Polish star, who is preparing for this month’s Australian Open, the only Grand Slam she has yet to win, said the mixed team United Cup was a better way to celebrate men’s and women’s tennis.
“I think actually events like this, the United Cup, bring tennis together, and WTA and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement,” she said.
“Also seeing singles players who don’t usually have space to play together in mixed doubles, playing those kinds of matches, I think that’s actually what makes our sport a lot more interesting and better.”
Ties at the United Cup include men’s singles and women’s singles and mixed doubles, with the group winners in each host city – Perth and Sydney – advancing to the quarter-finals with the top finishers.
Sabalenka defended her role against Kyrgios this week, saying tennis has to “keep it fresh, keep it new, keep it fun.”
“I think I would definitely do it again,” she said.
“I like revenge and I don’t like leaving things as they are.”
