- Australian claims 6-3, 6-3 win in front of sold-out crowd at Coca-Cola Arena
DUBAI: Nick Kyrgios on Sunday night overcame Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes: The Dubai Showdown” in front of a sold-out crowd at the Coca Cola Arena.
The Australian, who won the match 6-3, 6-3, was presented with the winner’s trophy by Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum, a former UAE national tennis player and president of the UAE Padel Tennis Association.
“Firstly this wasn’t a win for me, it was a win for both of us,” Kyrgios said.
“She is an incredible player and she really tested me. You have to remember I’m only one of a few who has beaten the big four, some of the best of all time. And Aryna showed the world that she can come toe-to-toe with me.”
“I’ll be honest I struggled to sleep last night,” he said. “I knew there was a lot of pressure and talk around this game and I wasn’t going to take it lightly. I loved it here in Dubai, being here with my friends and in this arena. She made me sweat.”
World No.1 Sabalenka said: “I really enjoyed it, I really enjoyed the challenge. It was unpredictable for both of us; I had to adjust my serve and I needed to find the perfect position for my kick serve.
“It was a really interesting experience, and being here in Dubai, the energy in the arena was super strong. I hope that people around the world saw it and enjoyed it too, and brought more attention to the sport of tennis.”
Ahmed Al-Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Dubai continues to strengthen its reputation as a global hub for major sporting events.”
The event “delivered a world class experience for fans and showcased the city on an international stage,” he added.
The event marked TLive’s debut in the Middle East. The company’s Chairman and CEO Michel Lamuniere said: “The energy inside the arena was incredible and the response from fans exceeded our expectations.
“We’re proud to have delivered an iconic event in Dubai and grateful to our partners for helping bring this vision to life.”
BY: The Times Union
