Game, Set, Rematch
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Winston Chu Feb. 11, 2026
Under the glaring lights of the Houston Astrodome, 30,000 spectators in the crowd and over 90 million fans tuning in from their televisions eagerly watched female player Billie Jean King compete against male player Bobby Riggs in the first ever Battle of the Sexes. Nearly 50 years after the iconic moment when King threw her racket in the air after defeating Riggs in straight sets, the Battle of the Sexes has finally returned for a rematch.
In the 1970s, women in America constantly fought for equality, whether it was for equal pay or reproductive rights. It was no different when it came to sports—King, only 29 at the time, and other rising female tennis players unionized and demanded equal pay and rights in the U.S. Open.
“If you look at the women’s dress code within tennis specifically, the examples of appropriate attire are usually dresses and skirts. Even though attire is an important aspect of a sport, traditional customs tend to widen the gender inequality with contrasting attire requirements between women and men,” Avni Harsh ‘27 said.
However, men like 55-year-old ex-champion Riggs believed that female tennis players warranted less pay because their standards did not match the standards of men's matches. In fact, he challenged King to play a match against him to prove his views, believing that she would not be able to beat any “top male player” or even a “tired old man” like him.
Initially, King refused. After Riggs defeated the No. 1 women’s player Margaret Court, King not only changed her mind, but changed the course of sports history along with it. In 1973, King beat Riggs in three consecutive sets with the final scores of 6-4, 6-3 and 6-3. Her victory symbolized the power and accomplishments women are able to hold when they have the opportunity to prove themselves.
After 50 years of King’s triumph, the Battle of the Sexes returned in Dubai in December 2025, this time featuring two different competitors: No. 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and men’s player Nick Kyrgios. However, unlike the original, this match featured rule modifications that favored the female athlete. Sabalenka played in a court that was 9% smaller than Kyrgios to reduce the distance she needed to cover compared to her male counterpart. Additionally, both players were limited to one serve, countering Kyrgios’ powerful serves and frequent aces. Despite these rule modifications that are not applied in typical co-ed matches, Kyrgios ultimately defeated Sabalenka 6-3 in two sets.
“While the people who set up the game might have labeled it as an effort to advance gender equality in sports, it was ultimately just a cash grab for them to earn more money and fans. This match had no impact on the cause compared to the original battle because the underlying intentions were not the same,” Isabel Wright ‘26 said.
Since the match was first announced, critics labeled the match as nothing more than a publicity stunt with no real cultural significance. Although the original Battle of the Sexes revolved around challenging direct sexist ideology in sports, this new iteration was arranged by the same agency that represents Sabalenka and Kyrgios, possibly to simply engage younger audiences and make some money. While the two players praised the match, other tennis champions have spoken out against it. In fact, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, King herself stated that the intent of the match was “just not the same” as her original battle against Riggs where she played to spark “social change in 1973.” Similarly, six-time Grand Slam title holder Iga Swiatek believed that the match had nothing to do with social change, and merely shared the same name as the match between King and Riggs.
Ironically, Kyrgios has been compared to Riggs on multiple occasions. In 2015, he was fined after making indecent comments about his opponent’s girlfriend. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend after shoving her during an argument.
Whether these new matches are for advocacy or entertainment, one thing remains clear: sexism still remains in sports today. Until this issue is solved, perhaps these battles will never end.
About the Contributor
Winston Chu
staff writer
Winston Chu is a senior at Leland High School and the Managing Editor for The Charger Account. Over the summer, he went abroad to teach English to elementary school students in Taiwan. His hobbies include skiing and speaking, and he hopes to get better at playing pool.
Jane Hong
creative director
Jane Hong, a senior at Leland High School, is the Creative Director of The Charger Account. She loves good food and long naps, but when she’s not recharging, you’ll probably find her dancing or binging the latest K-dramas.
