Tennis icon Billie Jean King, who defeated Bobby Riggs in 1973, is critical of the rematch between a woman and a man.
The rematch of the “Battle of the Sexes” is causing controversy in the tennis world. Ahead of Sunday’s rematch between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, there has been plenty of criticism—including from one of the stars of the original match. “I hope it will be a great match—of course I want Sabalenka to win—but it’s just not the same,” tennis icon Billie Jean King recently told the BBC.
Only the comparison between the sexes is a parallel to the historic duel in which she defeated Bobby Riggs 52 years ago: “Everything else: no. For us, it was about social change, culturally speaking, where we stood in 1973. For me, it was really political. I knew I had to beat him to bring about social change. I had many reasons to win.“ Now it’s much more about entertainment.
Tennis: Sabalenka match against Kyrgios draws criticism
And money? ”The only reason they’re doing this is because their management company said, ‘We’re going to make some money off this. But what does that have to do with women’s tennis?” said six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs in her tennis podcast. World No. 1 Sabalenka and injury-plagued Kyrgios, currently ranked 671, are represented by the same agency.
Meanwhile, the protagonists are particularly relaxed. “All the negative comments,” Kyrgios wrote on social media, would bring “even more attention” to the match. “Sit back and enjoy the show,” said Sabalenka: “No one cares what you have to say.”
The “Battle of the Sexes” has taken place three times so far. Twice in 1973, when 55-year-old Riggs first beat Margaret Court, now the Grand Slam record winner, and then lost to King a few months later in the most watched edition. And once again in 1992, when American Jimmy Connors defeated Martina Navratilova in two sets.
