Belarusian Tennis Star Sabalenka Credits Battle of the Sexes Match with Fitness Boost

Tennis Player Aryna Sabalenka Credits Exhibition Match Against Nick Kyrgios with Boosting Intensity of Her Game

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one tennis player, attributed her strong performance in the Brisbane International tournament to a recent exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. On Tuesday, Sabalenka defeated Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1 in the second round of the tournament, taking just 48 minutes to complete the match.

Sabalenka’s opponent, Bucsa, was ranked world number 50 at the time of the match. The ease with which Sabalenka won suggests that she is in top form ahead of next week’s Australian Open first round.

In a recent interview, Sabalenka mentioned her exhibition match against Kyrgios as a factor in her improved performance. She stated that playing against Kyrgios was an intense experience due to his unorthodox playing style, which required her to move quickly around the court. This, she said, helped improve her fitness levels.

Sabalenka also praised the exhibition match for its ability to bring attention to tennis. The match, held on December 28 in Dubai, was seen as a unique opportunity to showcase the sport’s potential for high-energy entertainment.

In the next round of the tournament, Sabalenka will face either Jelena Ostapenko or Sorana Cirstea. She is set to meet Madison Keys in the quarter-finals, which would be a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final.

Source: Al Jazeera