![\"Aryna](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Aryna-Sabalenka-Indian-Wells-Sky-Sports-6802605.jpg\" "\\"Aryna")
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Aryna Sabalenka is planning to negotiate a deal with ‘lucky charm’ Martina Navratilova (Image: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n
Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> is ready and willing to share her Indian Wells prize money with tennis legend Martina Navratilova<\/a> after branding the 18-time Major winner and Sky Sports pundit her \u201clucky charm\u201d this week<\/a>. The world No. 1 lifted the trophy in the Californian desert for the very first time in her career,<\/a> saving a championship point in a decisive tiebreak to beat Elena Rybakina<\/a> 3-6 6-3 7-6(6).<\/p>\n Since the beginning of 2025, Sabalenka has only lost three of the 25 tiebreaks she\u2019s played. Earlier in the tournament, the 27-year-old told Navratilova that she had seen her before winning a breaker 7-0 against Victoria Mboko, and asked the Czech-American star to sit courtside for the remainder of her matches.<\/p>\n Navratilova was back in the courtside seat for Sunday\u2019s final, providing mid-match insight for Sky Sports, and proved to be a good omen for Sabalenka, who won the last three points of the match to be crowned champion. Afterwards, fellow pundit Tim Henman<\/a> joked that the No. 1 seed needed to share her prize money.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was really impressive, the way you kept it together emotionally, because it\u2019s really hot, and you were still clearly thinking everything you wanted to do on the next point, that\u2019s impressive,\u201d Navratilova told the newly-crowned Indian Wells champion moments after the match.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s actually, I\u2019m also impressed by that, to be honest. I wish I could be like that every match!\u201d Sabalenka replied. And Henman pointed out that there might have been a reason Sabalenka won the match in a breaker. \u201cYou had your lucky charm in the tiebreak,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you! I saw you there. Can you be there, please?\u201d Sabalenka replied. Henman decided to try his own luck on Navratilova\u2019s behalf, adding: \u201cShe was talking about percentage of prize money for the luck.\u201d<\/p>\n Martina Navratilova has been Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘lucky charm’ this week (Image: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n But Sabalenka was happy to oblige, joking: \u201cYeah, we can negotiate it!\u201d The Belarusian then left the Sky Sports team to move on to her next interview, as presenter Gigi Salmon jibed that Navratilova was now on \u201ccommission\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take whatever it is. I\u2019ll take one per cent, whatever it is,\u201d the retired star said. Navratilova will be on pundit duties again at the upcoming Miami Open, and Sabalenka will no doubt be glad to see her courtside in the Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a fortnight to remember for Sabalenka, who got engaged ahead of the tournament. Her boyfriend of two years, Georgios Frangulis, got down on one knee and popped the question<\/a> in a romantic poolside setting days before the world No. 1\u2019s opening match. Sabalenka, Frangulis, and the team also recently welcomed a new puppy, Ash, into the fold.<\/p>\n Now, Sabalenka has a maiden Indian Wells trophy and \u00a3870k ($1.1m) prize money to go with it. Maybe a little less if she strikes a deal with Navratilova.<\/p>\n EXPRESS SPORT ON FB!<\/strong> Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Stay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news <\/strong> Join us on WhatsApp<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Martina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Martina-Navratilova-Aryna-Sabalenka-Indian-Wells-6802617.jpg\" "\\"Martina")
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