Tennis News Roundup: Aryna Sabalenka under fire for Nick Kyrgios collab before Battle of the Sexes; Carlos Alcaraz wins prestigious ATP award Novak Djokovic has never won before

Fans criticized Aryna Sabalenka for posting multiple reels with Nick Kyrgios ahead of their 'Battle of the Sexes' match. Carlos Alcaraz won his second Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.

Former player Greg Rusedski said that Alcaraz and Sinner are better than the Big 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 wish to see Serena Williams return to the professional tour.

Let's look at the top stories of the day:

#1. Aryna Sabalenka faces fans' wrath for Nick Kyrgios collab ahead 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 Arena on December 28. The two players have also participated in a couple of exhibition events over the last few days.

Since they have been traveling and spending time together, Sabalenka has shared a few photos and reels in the build-up to the event. In the latest video, both players can be seen vibing to Drake and Nicki Minaj's song 'Up All Night.'

Fans were unimpressed with the Belarusian for promoting Kyrgios, a highly controversial figure.

"It's such a shame that this woman represents no.1 in tennis. Imagine seeing her normalize someone like him and keep posting him everywhere and no one can talk about that," a fan wrote.

"And I thought she can’t possibly get any dumber. I guess she has no limits," another one commented.

"She’s a narcissistic child. Nothing new to see here really. She’s always embarrassing herself," someone said.

#2. Carlos Alcaraz wins 2025 Sportsmanship Award, Novak Djokovic continues to wait

Carlos Alcaraz has been declared the winner of the 2025 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, his second in his career. This honor is given to players for their exceptional on and off-court conduct during a particular season.

Roger Federer won the prestigious ATP award a significant 13 times, while Rafael Nadal won it on five occasions. However, Novak Djokovic is still waiting for his first.

Alcaraz edged Felix Auger-Aliassime, Grigor Dimitrov, and Casper Ruud for this year's Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. The Spaniard won his first one in 2023.

Alcaraz finished 2025 as the World No. 1. He won eight singles titles, including the French Open and US Open.

#3. Former player opines Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner are better than Big 3

Greg Rusedski has opined that due to the evolution of tennis and the advancement of science, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner can be deemed better than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

"What we're seeing with Sinner and Alcaraz is the evolution of the sport. Over the years, science introduces new nuances to tennis, improving racket technology, players' physiques, and technique. What Jannik and Carlos are doing is elevating tennis to a higher level," Rusedski said (via Punto de Break).

The Brit added that the Big 3 would have been just as dangerous if they were in their primes today.

"They're playing at a level never before seen, so you could say they're better than the Big 3. However, that doesn't mean Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic wouldn't have reached that level of play if they had the current conditions," he added.

Sinner and Alcaraz have established a duopoly on the tour over the last two years, dividing the last eight Grand Slam titles among themselves. Meanwhile, Djokovic is still looking for his record 25th Major.

#4. Novak Djokovic tips Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to win 2026 FIFA World Cup

Enjoying the offseason, Novak Djokovic attended the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, December 7. During an interview, he was asked for his prediction about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the US.

The Serb made a bold claim, tipping Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to defeat Mexico in the final. He said:

"I'm going to be blunt about it. Portugal, and they're going to beat Mexico in the finals. I said I'm going to be bold about it. Portugal-Mexico final. Portugal wins it."

Meanwhile, Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, will try to win a record-extending 11th Australian Open title next month.

#5. Lewis Hamilton wishes for Serena Williams to make a professional comeback

A few days ago, Serena Williams sparked comeback rumors, as her name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP). However, the 44-year-old immediately denied the rumors.

After the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Williams' long-time friend Lewis Hamilton was asked if he wanted the tennis legend to come out of retirement. The Brit said (via Tennis365):

"I’d love to [see it]. I keep telling her to come back. Massive, massive supporter of her. She’s the greatest of all time, such a legend. She was at one of the races just recently. A dear friend as well, which I’m really honoured by."

Williams played her last match at the 2022 US Open and retired as a 23-time Major winner.

Edited by Parag Jain