Emma Navarro achieved a notable 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over defending champion Coco Gauff at the U.S. Open on Sunday, securing her place in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Grand Slam event. Prior to this year, Navarro had never advanced beyond the first round at Flushing Meadows.
“I believe that I can play tennis with the best players in the world. I deserve to be on this stage,” Navarro commented. “I belong in these rounds of Grand Slams. I can make deep runs.”
At 23 years old, Navarro was born in New York and grew up in South Carolina. Her father, Ben, is the billionaire founder and CEO of Sherman Financial Group and also owns the WTA Tour event in Charleston, having previously attempted to purchase the NFL’s Carolina Panthers in 2018.
Navarro played collegiate tennis at the University of Virginia, where she won an NCAA singles title as a freshman in 2021. She noted, “When I first left college, my coach and I made a two-year commitment for me to focus on professional tennis before reassessing.” After surpassing her expectations, she expressed her hopes of continued improvement as she prepares to face Paula Badosa of Spain on Tuesday.
Navarro has made significant strides in the rankings, rising from No. 143 at the end of 2022 to a current career-high of No. 12. She is seeded 13th at the U.S. Open based on pre-draw rankings. This season has marked a breakthrough for Navarro, who holds a record of 49-19 and secured her first WTA title in Hobart, Australia, earlier this year.
“I see choices on the court as necessities rather than options now, and that’s because I trust myself to execute well,” Navarro explained, reflecting on her growth as a player.
The current U.S. Open marks only Navarro’s eighth Grand Slam tournament, and she has reached the quarterfinals for the second time after defeating Gauff. She previously eliminated Gauff at Wimbledon in July and also took out four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka earlier in the tournament.
Navarro acknowledged the significance of her current accomplishments, stating, “It’s pretty insane just to talk about winning a Grand Slam or winning a tournament like the U.S. Open. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have even considered that.”
Gauff, who struggled with 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors in their match, praised Navarro for her impressive play and pressure on her serves. “In the future, I have to take care of my serve. She’s a great returner and does a great job redirecting,” Gauff noted.
Despite the competitive nature of the match, Gauff expressed her admiration for Navarro, highlighting their friendship as Olympic teammates for the United States at the Paris Games. After their match, Gauff remarked, “If you had to lose, I would rather lose to a good person off the court.”