Sabalenka 'Didn't Expect' To Finish No. 1 Before Season Started According To Navratilova
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka has a chance to finish this year as world number one, on the WTA Tour, which probably isn't something she expected when the season started.
The season started brilliantly for Aryna Sabalenka who finally won her maiden Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open. It was the confidence booster that she needed and expectedly her year after that went pretty well.
Some trophies and deep runs didn't equate to another Grand Slam trophy, but she played in the US Open final. Coco Gauff proved too much to overcome, but all of her efforts earned her the number one rank.
According to former player Martina Navratilova, who previewed the 2023 WTA Finals for the WTA, she'll likely finish the year as the world number one, something the American didn't have on her 2023 bingo card.
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.- Navratilova on Sabalenka's season
She’s played the most consistently in the big events, and I expect her to do that again in this one. 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.
According to the former American player, Sabalenka will finish the year as world number one as well, which is a pretty interesting prediction.
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. 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 picks Sabalenka as year-end No. 1
