Battle of the Sexes will not damage women's sport: Sabalenka

World number one Aryna Sabalenka says she is not concerned that losing to Nick Kyrgios in this month's 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition could damage the reputation of women's tennis.

- 

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play the Australian, ranked 672 in the world, in Dubai on December 28.

“I am not putting myself at any risk,” the 27-year-old Belarusian told the BBC. “We're there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins.

“It’s so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it's not about that. This event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level.”

Some have criticised the event which has echoes of the original 1973 Battle of the Sexes match in which women's trailblazer Billie Jean King was challenged by 55-year-old former Grand Slam winner Bobby Riggs who claimed women’s tennis was far inferior to men’s.

King won the match in Houston with the contest attracting a reported 90 million television viewers.