Overview
- The match will be best of three sets with a 10-point deciding tiebreak, one serve per point for both players, and a court on Sabalenka’s side reduced by nine percent.
- Organisers told Tennis365 that Mouratoglou proposed the smaller-court and one-serve concept and that an earlier Hong Kong attempt did not proceed.
- Sabalenka said she is not putting herself at risk and argues the event can help elevate interest in women’s tennis.
- Kyrgios has made blunt remarks about women returning men’s serves and suggested he could beat Sabalenka without full intensity, drawing criticism.
- Commentators including Greg Rusedski call the format a gimmick lacking the original match’s purpose, with the BBC set to broadcast the Dubai exhibition at the Coca-Cola Arena.