Martina Navratilova says Aryna Sabalenka "should be full of confidence" ahead of 2023 WTA Finals

Martina Navratilova has given her take on Aryna Sabalenka's chances at the 2023 WTA Finals.  

The 25-year-old has had a hugely successful season, winning the Australian Open and overtaking Iga Swiatek as World No. 1 to secure her spot at the WTA Finals in Cancun.

Now, tennis star Navratilova, who has 59 Grand Slam titles to her name across singles and doubles, has shared her thoughts on the likely state of Sabalenka's mindset and has predicted her performance at the WTA Finals.

"Consistent enough, but most consistent in the majors, right? That’s where the numbers come in. I thought that Iga was going to finish the year No.1, but Ayrna caught her. So, the No.1 is up for grabs. … She’s played the most consistently in the big events, and I expect her to do that again in this one," the 67-year-old said of Sabalenka.

Navratilova then referred to the Belarusian player's difficult time in Mexico at the 2022 Guadalajara Open, where she lost to Liudmila Samsonova in her opening round.

"I know she wasn’t that happy in Guadalajara -- the ball was flying on her too much -- but I think in Cancun she’ll have an easier time," she added.

The former World No. 1 also examined the potential lingering impact of Sabalenka's defeat to Coco Gauff in the final of the 2023 US Open.

"Being at sea level, she should be full of confidence. Unless there is some scar tissue from the US Open final -- she knows she could have won, but didn’t. She just didn’t play her best tennis.

However, she concluded that there may be less pressure on the World No. 1 at the WTA Finals in comparison to Flushing Meadows.

"The pressure’s off and she’s probably going to finish with the No.1 --- I bet she didn’t expect that at the beginning of the year," Navratilova said.