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Naomi Osaka came under attack as her sports management company, Evolve, is set to organize Battle of the Sexes, where women's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face men's No. 652 Nick Kyrgios. The event will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on 28 December.Naomi Osaka, the Japanese No. 1 and a four-time Grand Slam champion, parted ways with IMG and established Evolve with her long-term agent, Stuart Duguid, in 2022. Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, was the first tennis player to join Evolve, followed by Ons Jabeur in 2023 and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in 2025. As per recent news, two Evolve-backed players, Sabalenka, who defended her US Open title in New York, and Kyrgios, who has been sidelined with a wrist injury for 18 months, are set to lock horns in the Battle of the Sexes this December. In response to the news release, several fans voiced their opinions, claiming that it was a PR stunt by Osaka's company and that it was not okay for the Japanese star to support the act. One fan wrote:"This includes Naomi since it's the agency she runs that arranged this."Another fan joined forces and called out Osaka, commenting:"Everybody's pissed a Sabalenka for agreeing to this, but Naomi is the one who made it happen."Another X fan also spoke on the same line, saying:"Sabalenka switched to Osaka’s management company in which Kyrgio has a stake. She’s doing this for the only reason of giving him a platform to be relevant. Sad day for tennis."Cara @CaraAndGingerLINKSabalenka switched to Osaka’s management company in which Kyrgio has a stake. She’s doing this for the only reason of giving him a platform to be relevant. Sad day for tennis.Here are some other reactions:"Would call it more a PR stunt by Evolve," a fan tweeted. "Sorry but why on earth Naomi allowed this to happen is BEYOND ME:," another fan commented. Aryna Sabalenka talked about taking on Nick Kyrgios in the Battle of the SexesAryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Wuhan Open - Day 8 - Source: GettyAryna Sabalenka has been the most dominant on the court, winning the Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024 and the US Open titles in 2024 and 2025. Before the Battle of the Sexes, she issued a bold message to Kyrgios, cautioning him to be ready as she will bring her A-game. "I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my A-game."In 1973, American legend Bobby Riggs defeated Margaret Court in a similar Battle of the Sexes, but was later ousted by tennis titan Billie Jean King four months afterward.
