Wimbledon: Navratilova names Sabalenka as favourite - but can she handle the pressure?
Ben Smith 
Wimbledon is just round the corner, with the world's best players descending on SW19 ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year, and nine-time champion Martina Navratilova has backed Aryna Sabalenka in the women's draw.
The world number one is the comfortable favourite with betting sites, but there is a feeling that it could be any one of a number of players - especially after Sabalenka lost in the final of the French Open.
Free Bets tennis expert, Ben Smith, has had a look ahead at the women's side of the draw over the next couple of weeks.
Nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Martina Navratilova has declared Aryna Sabalenka the woman to beat in the race for the Venus Rosewater Dish.
The Belarusian fine-tuned her grasscourt game at the WTA 500 event in Berlin last week, saving four match points to edge past 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, before falling in straight sets to the in-form Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-finals.
“Looking at her record, it’s hard to think she’s not the favourite this year,” said Navratilova. “She’s a complete player and has a good game for grass. It’s hard to find a weakness or an opening against her.
“I’m wondering if losing the French Open final will actually help motivate her. I think she finds herself in a good spot.”
Sabalenka has come up short in both Grand Slam finals so far in 2025. She lost to Madison Keys in Melbourne, and more recently let a winning position slip against Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.
It was a disappointing performance from the world number one, but it was Sabalenka’s post-match remarks following her defeat in Paris that sparked the most criticism. "I think she won the match not because she played incredible [but] just because I made all of those mistakes,” she said.
She later apologised, admitting she “absolutely regretted” her comments, but the scrutiny, combined with two lost major finals this year, is hardly ideal preparation for Wimbledon, especially following her dismantling by Vondrousova in Berlin.
Vondrousova won Wimbledon in 2023 and has received plenty of support in the outright tennis betting market after claiming the title in Berlin. Along the way, she not only saw off Sabalenka in the semi-finals but also earned notable wins over Keys, Diana Shnaider, and Ons Jabeur, before overcoming Wang Xinyu in the final.
Navratilova identified Gauff as the second-favourite, calling her “the best athlete in the women’s game”. The American will arrive at the All England Club on a high after picking up her second major title earlier this month. She has, however, only played one match on grass this summer.
Contrary to Navratilova, the oddsmakers have installed Rybakina as the number two in the market behind Sabalenka. Since winning at SW19 in 2022, the Kazakhstani has performed strongly at Wimbledon in each of the following two years. She reached the quarter-finals two years ago and went one better last year.
Questions remain about the mental side of Rybakina’s game in pressure moments. Her failure to convert four consecutive match points against Sabalenka last week was a clear example.
Iga Swiatek heads to Wimbledon somewhat under the radar, having gone over a year without a title. Despite never progressing beyond the last eight at the only grass-court Grand Slam, she remains well respected in the outright market, currently priced as the fourth favourite on the betting board.
Home hope Emma Raducanu, who will not be seeded, has fallen into long-shot territory after her loss to Maya Joint in the second round of the Eastbourne Open.
We will provide pre-tournament tennis betting tips once the draw has been made at the end of the week, so don't miss out on Ben Smith's tennis predictions and keep track of them over the next couple of weeks.
