The women’s number one believes her match with Nick Kyrgios helped increase the intensity of her power-packed game.
Published January 6, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka believes her much-maligned exhibition tennis match with Nick Kyrgios, the Battle of the Sexes, paid off in her preparation for the Grand Slam season.
The world number one beat Christina Buksa at the Brisbane International Tournament on Tuesday, setting her sights on next week’s Australian Open first round.
In the second round of the opening tournament in Queensland, Australia, Sabalenka defeated the Spaniard 6-0, 6-1 in just 48 minutes.
She won the first set in just 22 minutes, and it took just 26 minutes to take the second set against a 27-year-old with no answer to her power.
Sabalenka’s easy victory over the world No. 50 will send a warning to title contenders in Melbourne as she seeks her third Australian Open title in four years.
Sabalenka said the fact that he played so well in his first match of the season showed he was worthy of facing the volatile but controversial Kyrgios in Dubai on December 28.
“So when you play against guys, the intensity is totally different,” she said.
“Especially when Nick is there, he moves a lot because he hits drop shots every shot, so it was great fitness for me.
“And today I was like, hmmm, let’s move around.
“That exhibition was fun. It was a great challenge,” she added.
“I think we brought so much attention to tennis. It wasn’t about proving anything to anyone, it was about showing that tennis can really be huge.”
Sabalenka will face either Jelena Ostapenko or Sorana Cirstea in the third round and Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final won by the American.
