Down by a break midway through the opening set, Emma Navarro never blinked.
Facing No.2-seeded " for the second time, the No.19-seeded American had a game plan in mind and the skills to execute it. The 23-year-old never wavered as she rallied for a convincing 6-4, 6-3 triumph over the 2023 US Open champion – her second win over a former Grand Slam champion on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in her last three matches.
Gauff, considered the favorite to make it through the lower half of the draw after the withdrawal of two-time semifinalst Aryna Sabalenka due to injury, could only look on as Navarro shrunk the court with her speed and retreival skills and forced the No.2 seed to go for smaller targets.
Navarro, who had blitzed four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in her Centre Court debut in the second round, took over the match late in the opening set, breaking for the set by cracking a forehand passing shot when Gauff left an approaching forehand too short. She never looked back from there as an increasingly frustrated Gauff strayed further away from the pinpoint tennis that she is capable of creating.
Six months after Gauff had dropped just four games in the pair’s first career meeting, in the Auckland semifinals, Navarro has demonstrated just how far she has come since.
“I think at that point, in January, I wasn’t really ready to take on an opponent like that and I feel like I’ve improved myself a lot since then,” she said. “I feel like I’m a different player now than I was then – more comfortable being in these positions, on the big stages and playing some bigger tennis.”
Rising Navarro has already cut her ranking in half from the end of 2023, from 38 to 17, and she’s up to No.14 in the WTA live rankings with her win. If she can manage the unthinkable and win Wimbledon, a Top-10 ranking could be coming as soon as next Monday. If not, soon enough.
"She’s a Human Backboard"
The former NCAA standout at the University of Virginia drew rave reviews during ESPN’s telecast of the contest.
At one point 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert said “Emma Navarro is a human backboard in this match,” referring to her ability to blanket the court with her world-class movement.
Darren Cahill, the current coach of World No.1 Jannik Sinner, also had praise. In a segment for ESPN after the match he said: "The way she plays, the variation in her game, the slice backhands, coming to the net, being brave in the big moments and her demeanor, her humbleness – feet on the ground. She didn’t get too excited when she won a couple of big matches over Osaka, and also Gauff.
“I love everything about her – she is my new favorite player.”
Cahill recalled watching Navarro at the US Open qualifying in 2022 and remarked on the difference.
"I didn't see this much game in her. She has come so far in the last 20 months,” he said. “The ability to step up in the big moments, the heaviness of the forehand, taking it both ways, finding Coco’s weaknesses, the ability to put the serve in at the big moments, she’s a pleasure to watch.”
Navarro will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals. She has defeated the No.7 seed in each of their three previous meetings.
Paolini has been extremely hot of late, however. She reached the Roland-Garros final in June, and defeated Madison Keys on Sunday to reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. That’s 11 wins in her last 12 Grand Slam matches. It was a tough outing for Gauff, who became unravelled in the second set and repeatedly showed her frustration as she vented in the direction of her box. Navarro took notice.
“I don’t look at my opponent too much,” she said. “I kind of keep my energy on my side of the court but I definitely saw her getting frustrated and looking at her box. In tough time you will use anything that gives you a little bit of momentum, so maybe seeing that helped a little bit and gave me some confidence.”
Disappointing for Gauff, who burst onto the scene five years ago when she reached the second week as a 15-year-old. She has not progressed further since.
She hit 12 winners against 25 unforced errors, and had her serve broken three times. Navarro hit just ten winners, but saved two of three break points and won all nine points she played at net.
Sunday was Navarro’s time to shine, and in her seventh Grand Slam main draw appearance, the best may be yet to come.