Followers criticized Aryna Sabalenka for posting a number of reels with Nick Kyrgios forward of their ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match. Carlos Alcaraz gained his second Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.
Former participant Greg Rusedski mentioned that Alcaraz and Sinner are higher than the Large 3, courtesy of the evolution of tennis. Novak Djokovic predicted Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lewis Hamilton expressed his want to see Serena Williams return to the skilled tour.
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Let’s take a look at the highest tales of the day:
#1. Aryna Sabalenka faces followers’ wrath for Nick Kyrgios collab forward of Battle of the Sexes
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios are set to face off in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition match at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Area on December 28. The 2 gamers have additionally participated in a few exhibition occasions over the previous couple of days.
Since they’ve been touring and spending time collectively, Sabalenka has shared just a few photographs and reels within the build-up to the occasion. Within the newest video, each gamers may be seen vibing to Drake and Nicki Minaj’s track ‘Up All Evening.’
Followers have been unimpressed with the Belarusian for selling Kyrgios, a extremely controversial determine.
“It is such a disgrace that this girl represents no.1 in tennis. Think about seeing her normalize somebody like him and preserve posting him all over the place and nobody can discuss that,” a fan wrote.
“And I believed she will’t probably get any dumber. I suppose she has no limits,” one other one commented.
“She’s a narcissistic youngster. Nothing new to see right here actually. She’s all the time embarrassing herself,” somebody mentioned.
#2. Carlos Alcaraz wins 2025 Sportsmanship Award, Novak Djokovic continues to attend
Carlos Alcaraz has been declared the winner of the 2025 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, his second in his profession. This honor is given to gamers for his or her distinctive on and off-court conduct throughout a specific season.
Roger Federer gained the distinguished ATP award a major 13 instances, whereas Rafael Nadal gained it on 5 events. Nevertheless, Novak Djokovic continues to be ready for his first.
Alcaraz edged Felix Auger-Aliassime, Grigor Dimitrov, and Casper Ruud for this 12 months’s Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. The Spaniard gained his first one in 2023.
Alcaraz completed 2025 because the World No. 1. He gained eight singles titles, together with the French Open and US Open.
#3. Former participant opines Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner are higher than Large 3
Greg Rusedski has opined that as a result of evolution of tennis and the development of science, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner may be deemed higher than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
“What we’re seeing with Sinner and Alcaraz is the evolution of the game. Over time, science introduces new nuances to tennis, bettering racket know-how, gamers’ physiques, and method. What Jannik and Carlos are doing is elevating tennis to a better degree,” Rusedski mentioned (through Punto de Break).
The Brit added that the Large 3 would have been simply as harmful in the event that they have been of their primes in the present day.
“They’re taking part in at a degree by no means earlier than seen, so you would say they’re higher than the Large 3. Nevertheless, that does not imply Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic would not have reached that degree of play if they’d the present situations,” he added.
Sinner and Alcaraz have established a duopoly on the tour over the past two years, dividing the final eight Grand Slam titles amongst themselves. In the meantime, Djokovic continues to be searching for his document twenty fifth Main.
#4. Novak Djokovic suggestions Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to win 2026 FIFA World Cup
Having fun with the offseason, Novak Djokovic attended the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, December 7. Throughout an interview, he was requested for his prediction concerning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held within the US.
The Serb made a daring declare, tipping Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to defeat Mexico within the last. He mentioned:
“I’ll be blunt about it. Portugal, and they are going to beat Mexico within the finals. I mentioned I’ll be daring about it. Portugal-Mexico last. Portugal wins it.”
In the meantime, Djokovic, who gained his twenty fourth Grand Slam on the 2023 US Open, will attempt to win a record-extending eleventh Australian Open title subsequent month.
#5. Lewis Hamilton needs for Serena Williams to make an expert comeback
A couple of days in the past, Serena Williams sparked comeback rumors, as her identify appeared on the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company’s Worldwide Registered Testing Pool (IRTP). Nevertheless, the 44-year-old instantly denied the rumors.
After the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Williams’ long-time buddy Lewis Hamilton was requested if he needed the tennis legend to come back out of retirement. The Brit mentioned (through Tennis365):
“I’d like to [see it]. I preserve telling her to come back again. Huge, large supporter of her. She’s the best of all time, such a legend. She was at one of many races only recently. A pricey buddy as properly, which I’m actually honoured by.”
Williams performed her final match on the 2022 US Open and retired as a 23-time Main winner.
Edited by Parag Jain