Martina Navratilova has made her pick for which WTA star will win the 2026 Indian Wells Open.
The qualifiers are already in progress, with the main draw action on both tours kicking off on 4 March.
And just before it starts, Navratilova has put forward her pick for the upcoming WTA 1000 event.
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Martina Navratilova backs Aryna Sabalenka to take Indian Wells title
Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Speaking to the WTA website, the 18-time Gland Slam winner said: “You still have to go with [Aryna] Sabalenka because she’s got the weapons.
“Right now, the way everything is going, if [Elena] Rybakina is fully healthy, they are the top two players, clear frontrunners.
“They might come close to the level of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz if they keep going this way unless Coco [Gauff] figures things out and [Iga] Swiatek gets her mojo back.
“I think she’ll be out for revenge. Knowing her, Sabalenka is hoping she’s going to play Rybakina at some point.”
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Sabalenka goes into Indian Wells and the Miami Open with an 11-1 record for the year so far.
She picked up a title at the Brisbane International after beating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, just before Melbourne Park kicked off.
Rybakina has also started 2026 well. She is currently at 12-3 for the season, which includes her win over the Belarusian star in the Australian Open final.
Martina Navratilova concerned over Aryna Sabalenka’s record in Grand Slam finals
Navratilova was also asked about how she thinks Sabalenka might perform throughout the Sunshine Swing, given her strong 11-1 start to the season.
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She stated: “She played so well getting to the AO final, winning tough matches. Kept it together, but she was not nearly near her best.
“The good news is that she’s getting to Grand Slam finals – five of the past six. The bad news is that she’s lost three of them.”
It is a record that has raised some eyebrows. Sabalenka has now reached eight Grand Slam finals and has split them evenly, with four wins and four losses.
By comparison, Rybakina and Gauff both hold 2-1 records in major finals, while Swiatek remains unbeaten in her six appearances.
This year’s Indian Wells field includes all four players, with Mirra Andreeva returning as defending champion after her win over the Belarusian star last year.
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On the ATP side, Jack Draper returns as defending champion after his victory over Holger Rune last year.
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