Fans Warned of Fine For Watching Kyrgios vs Sabalenka

For the first time in 33 years, tennis’ ‘Battle of the Sexes’ is back. Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios will take on current women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Sunday afternoon, but fans in the UK have been warned that they could face a hefty fine if they watch the action.

A concept first seen in 1973 when American veteran Bobby Riggs played a pair of matches against female players. Riggs first beat Margaret Court (6-1, 6-2, 6-2), but would later suffer a defeat to five-time Wimbledon champion, Billie Jean King (6-4, 6-3, 6-3).

King’s victory over Riggs was celebrated as a major moment in history for equality in sport. Broadcasters were fans of the exhibition matches, too. More than 90 million people tuned in around the world to watch King’s triumph.

Given the level of interest, it is surprising that the format wasn’t seen again until 1992. In a match held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Jimmy Connors got the better of Martina Navratilova (7-5, 6-2).

Now, after an even longer 33-year gap, the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ has returned. Sunday’s contest will see Australia’s Kyrgios face off with Sabalenka in a controversial clash that critics have called a cash-grab on the part of both players.

‘The Battle of the Sexes’ Will Feature Unique Rules For Kyrgios vs Sabalenka

Organisers, though, are doing their best to level the playing field between the two participants. A number of unique rules are in place for the match, including both players only getting one serve for each point, as opposed to the two they would traditionally receive.

This is designed to limit the natural power advantage possessed by Kyrgios. Sabalenka’s side of the court will also be nine percent smaller, for similar reasons.

Since losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, Kyrgios has fallen down the world rankings considerably. The 30-year-old has only played five times in 2025, and has won just one of those matches.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, is the greatest female player on the planet. The four-time Grand Slam winner proved her class by winning the US Open earlier this year. The event is far more about the spectacle on show than the result, but Kyrgios is a heavy favourite with the bookies to ultimately claim a victory.

Why Fans in the UK Could Be Fined For Watching Kyrgios vs Sabalenka

Such is the global interest in ‘The Battle of the Sexes’ that it is no surprise to see that a UK broadcaster has picked up the rights to show it. The contest will be shown live on BBC One, meaning that fans across the country will be able to tune in.

The match will also be simulcast on the BBC iPlayer, allowing viewers to watch Kyrgios vs Sabalenka on a variety of devices via the service’s app. However, those planning to watch ‘The Battle of the Sexes’ need to be aware of an important point.

Regardless of whether the match is watched on traditional television or on BBC iPlayer, TV licensing laws apply equally to all live broadcasts. The rules also apply regardless of the device you are using to view the fight (smart TV, computer, tablet, mobile phone etc).

Watching the match without a license could result in the £1,000 fine mentioned above, as well as an appearance in magistrates court.

As Kyrgios vs Sabalenka is being shown on the BBC, an active license is required even after the live broadcast has ended.

If you’re planning to watch the match, and you don’t have a current TV license, you can make sure you are covered by purchasing one for £174.50 per year, making use of the option to spread the cost through monthly, quarterly, or even weekly payments.