Aryna Sabalenka provides fitness update after recently struggling with a knee issue ahead of the WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka will be hoping to end her 2026 season in style at the WTA Finals.

Sabalenka has had a disappointing year by her standards, having failed to win a Grand Slam title for the first year since 2022, and has not won the title at any of her last 10 tournaments.

This has caused the Belarusian to lose her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina, and Sabalenka lost her opening match at her most recent tournament at the Wuhan Open.

In Sabalenka’s surprise defeat to Ann Li, she received treatment on her knee, which also had some tape on it, and she has now provided an update on this ahead of her final tournament of the season at the WTA Finals.

Aryna Sabalenka says she ‘feels better’ physically after knee issues

Sabalenka spoke in her pre-tournament press conference ahead of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, where she was asked about what she has been doing to try and come into the year-end tournament with a clean slate.

The four-time Grand Slam champion responded by explaining that her priority was to get her body sorted, as Sabalenka confirmed that she was feeling better now.

“First of all, I was trying to fix my body,” said Sabalenka. “I think we did the right things to it, so physically I feel better. Then yeah, it was a lot of training, a lot of physical and mental training. Let’s see how it goes.”

Sabalenka was asked more about the mental training she had been doing, as she explained what her focus now is, “Trying to stop overthinking, and trust my instincts more, leaving some things behind. It was lots of work.”

She then added when asked about working with a sports psychologist, “I mean, part of it is like that. I go back to work with psychologist and I feel like at this time I really needed someone to just help find myself again. Yeah, I’m starting back working with psychologist (laughter).”

Aryna Sabalenka comments on ‘amazing’ Karolina Muchova ahead of her first match at the WTA Finals

Sabalenka is part of Group 2 at the WTA Finals this year, alongside Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova. Muchova is the only player with a leading head-to-head against Sabalenka in the entire WTA Finals field, and will be her first opponent in Indian Wells.

When asked about facing Muchova in her first match, Sabalenka was full of praise for the two-time Grand Slam finalist.

“She’s [an] amazing player,” answered Sabalenka. “She really has variety in the game, approaches the net, great touch. We had a lot of great, tough battles, close matches.

“She’s very challenging, moving well, heavy strokes, great serving, approaches the net. She’s a tricky player to face. I always enjoy playing against her.”

Sabalenka has never won the WTA Finals before and she will kick off her bid for this year’s title against Muchova on Monday, November 9.