A prominent Australian Olympian has launched a scathing critique of a recent high-profile 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match, arguing it has dealt a severe blow to the fight for equality in women's sport.
Parker's Fierce Condemnation of Dubai Exhibition
Georgie Parker, a former hockey international who represented Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics, has accused women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka of doing a 'massive and arrogant disservice' to female athletes globally. Parker's criticism follows Sabalenka's 6-3, 6-3 defeat to former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a modified-court exhibition in Dubai.
In a column for The Nightly, Parker asserted the spectacle has 'set the argument for equality back by years'. She contended that rather than advancing the cause, the match reinforced outdated notions of female inferiority in sport. 'It has reinforced the tired, lazy narrative that women’s sport is inherently inferior to men’s,' Parker wrote.
Questionable Gains and a 'Farce' for Broadcasters
The event, designed to level the playing field by reducing Sabalenka's court size by nine per cent, has sparked widespread debate. Many questioned what the Belarusian star gained from facing Kyrgios, whose ATP ranking has plummeted to No. 671 amid persistent injury issues. His last tour match was in March at the Miami Masters.
Parker was unequivocal, stating the 'only winner was Sabalenka's bank account'. She argued that even a victory for Sabalenka would have been hollow, as 'beating a man who doesn’t train, doesn’t compete, and doesn’t take the sport seriously isn’t some great feminist victory'.
The backlash extended to the UK, where the BBC faced criticism for broadcasting what some online fans labelled a 'farce'. One viewer claimed it was 'cheapening the sport and fundamentally betraying the legacy of Billie Jean King'.
The Core Argument: Sport is More Than Power
Drawing from her own elite sporting experience, Parker explained how her Australian women's hockey team would often train against under-18 male sides. While the women possessed superior game intelligence and skill, the men's physical advantages in strength and speed often told.
'I’d argue the greatest moments in sport aren’t about pure power or speed, they are based on skills and smarts,' Parker wrote. 'That is the argument female athletes have been making for decades. Women’s sport is not men’s sport. It’s different. It’s the same but it’s different.'
Despite the controversy, the match drew significant global attention, with football icons like Ronaldo and Kaka in attendance. Sabalenka defended the event, suggesting it brought unprecedented exposure to tennis. She claimed the pre-match buzz rivalled that of a Grand Slam final and said the aim was to 'show tennis from a different side' and help the sport grow.
