The tennis world is abuzz this December, and not just because of the action on the courts. Two headline-grabbing developments have stirred debate and reflection across the sport: the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) controversial new ban on transgender girls and women, and the upcoming high-profile "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai. Both stories have ignited passionate discussion about inclusion, fairness, and the very identity of tennis in 2025.
On December 1, 2025, the USTA quietly updated its player-eligibility policy, effectively banning transgender girls and women from competing in the category that aligns with their gender identity. The policy, enforced primarily through birth certificates, applies to all junior and adult events. For now, the boys’ and men’s categories remain open to transgender people. This move, reported by independent journalist Marisa Kabas on December 3, came just as the broader American political climate has grown increasingly hostile toward transgender participation in sports.
The USTA’s decision did not happen in a vacuum. It follows a February executive order from President Donald Trump that called for sports to be segregated by biological sex. While independent governing bodies like the USTA are not legally bound by such federal directives, the ripple effects have been undeniable. Organizations including the NCAA and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) have also moved to ban trans girls and women from competition in 2025, often citing Trump’s order as a rationale. The USTA’s own policy update refers to an earlier Trump executive order and claims the USOPC’s policy change prompted this update, with the stated aim of not risking the USTA’s status as the national governing body of tennis.
Despite the stark nature of the policy, the USTA publicly maintains an inclusive stance. "While our Player Eligibility policy has changed, what has not changed is our belief that tennis is and will continue to be for everyone," a USTA spokesperson wrote in a statement to Slate. "Inclusion remains a core value of the USTA and we remain committed to making tennis available and accessible to all who wish to participate." Yet the reality of the ban stands in sharp contrast to these words, particularly when viewed through the lens of tennis history.
It’s impossible to ignore the echoes of the 1977 court battle fought by Renée Richards, a transgender woman and tennis pioneer. Richards sued the USTA for her right to compete in the U.S. Open’s women’s draw after being excluded by a sex-testing policy that was introduced just a year earlier. The New York State Supreme Court sided with Richards, with Judge Alfred M. Ascione famously declaring the USTA’s vetting process "grossly unfair, discriminatory and inequitable, and violative of her rights under the Human Rights Law of this State." With the support of tennis legend Billie Jean King, Richards became the first out transgender professional athlete in the country, playing on the Women’s Tennis Association circuit for five years and breaking into the top 20 in singles rankings. Complaints about fairness from her competitors were few, suggesting that inclusion and fair play can coexist.
However, the story takes a twist: Richards herself has since changed her stance. In a 2024 meeting with the WTA working group, she argued that transgender women who have undergone male puberty should be barred from elite sports, citing her own experience as an older athlete as a mitigating factor in her perceived advantage. "I began to think to myself, ‘What if I had been 25? Would it have been fair for me to compete as a woman?’" Richards explained, according to the meeting notes. She’s also acknowledged the complex science behind physical advantages and disadvantages, but her view is now more restrictive than the policy she once fought against.
The current USTA ban is sweeping, affecting competitors of all ages and skill levels, from seasoned professionals to young children just starting out. Critics argue that this exclusion is particularly harmful to transgender youth, who already face heightened risks of depression and suicide compared to their cisgender peers. Advocates contend that access to sports can be life-changing, providing community, confidence, and physical well-being. By shutting out transfeminine competitors, the USTA risks undermining its own progressive legacy and stifling the potential for new rivalries and iconic moments in the sport.
Meanwhile, the tennis world is also gearing up for a very different kind of spectacle: the much-anticipated "Battle of the Sexes" match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, scheduled for December 28 in Dubai. This exhibition event is the latest in a storied series, drawing inevitable comparisons to the legendary 1973 showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. But the 2025 edition has sparked its own controversy, with some arguing that it lacks the social significance of the original.
Billie Jean King herself, who famously defeated Riggs in straight sets, has been outspoken in her criticism. "The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That’s it. Everything else, no. Ours was about social change, culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not," King told reporters when asked about the upcoming match. SEN commentator Julian King echoed the sentiment, warning that the event could belittle women’s tennis no matter the outcome. "If Sabalenka loses, I think the women’s tennis game gets belittled," he said on SEN. "If she wins, the media will spin it as her beating an injured has-been who’s barely played in two years and ranks 670 odd in the world. If she loses – it will just awaken all of the misogynists who claim men’s sport is simply better."
Nick Kyrgios, never one to shy away from controversy, fired back at critics on Instagram on December 12: "By the way, all the negative comments towards the Battle of the Sexes are doing nothing but giving it more attention. At the end of the day, Aryna will go down as one of the greatest players to play this game. I will have entertained crowds around the world. We are 2 humans who are good friends who want to put on a show and get more eyes on tennis. Sit back and enjoy the Show. We both love the challenge and are going into this with no real experience. No one cares what you have to say."
Sabalenka, currently the top women’s tennis player in the world, is equally upbeat. In a BBC interview, she insisted, "It is not about the man being biologically stronger than the woman – this event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level. Whoever wins, wins." She also expressed confidence: "It’s not going to be an easy match for Nick. I’m going to be there competing and showing women are strong, powerful and good entertainment. He’s in a lose-lose situation. I’m in a win-win situation."
The match will feature modified rules, including a nine percent smaller court on Sabalenka’s side. The idea originated with the players’ shared agent, Stuart Duguid, who says the financial rewards are not the main motivation. Still, both players are expected to benefit handsomely from the event, which will air on Disney+ for Australian viewers.
As tennis closes out 2025, the sport stands at a crossroads, wrestling with questions of inclusion, fairness, and spectacle. Whether on the court or in the boardroom, the debates are far from settled. For now, all eyes turn to Dubai—and to the ongoing conversations that will shape the future of tennis for years to come.
