By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, August 10, 2024
World No. 15 Emma Navarro defeated lefty lucky loser Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-6(5) to charge into the Toronto semifinals.
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Pressure points came with some devious dips today.
An unwavering Emma Navarro mastered all challenges for her maiden WTA 1000 semifinal.
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In an all-American quarterfinal, Navarro defeated lefty lucky loser Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-6(5) to charge into the Toronto semifinals.
Wimbledon quarterfinalist Navarro improved to 38-16 reaching her fifth semifinal of the season—and continued her quest to crack the Top 10.
“A little bit of relief—it definitely wasn’t easy,” Navarro said in her on-court interview afterward. “Taylor’s a really great, talented player and she made it really tough on me today.
“But just proud of my ability to stick in there on a windy day. Definitely tough conditions, but happy to be moving on.”
Playing high-percentage combinations, Navarro was the more consistent baseline player and played sound tennis on pivotal points. Despite committing eight double faults, Navarro saved four of five break points and has not surrendered a set en route to the semifinals.
The eighth-seeded Navarro will face either two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka or fellow American Amanda Anisimova in tomorrow’s semifinals.
Hobart champion Navarro stunned Sabalenka at Indian Wells last March before the Belarusian avenged that defeat with a Roland Garros round of 16 victory. World No. 132 Anisimova won her lone meeting with Navarro, 6-2, 6-2, at the 2022 Indian Wells.
American women comprised five of the eight Toronto quarterfinalists—the most at a WTA 1000 event since the format’s inception in 2009.
Contesting her seventh quarterfinal of the season, Navarro navigated breezy stadium conditions and Townsend’s tricky lefty spins with confidence.
“I love to return and I love to mix up my [return] positions,” Navarro said. “Make the server a little bit. I tried to do some of that today. Maybe it worked.”
World No. 15 Navarro fended off a couple of break points holding for 4-3.
In the following game, Navarro tested Townsend hitting drives into the corner. Navarro converted her second break point drawing first-break blood for 5-3.
A rock-solid Navarro served out the 39-minute opening set at 30.
Sliding successive aces, Townsend edged ahead 2-1 in the second set.
Playing at a career-high singles rank of No. 52, Townsend deployed her variety to stay one step ahead throughout the second set.
The left-hander saved a break point with a body served, applied her net skills, including a successive serve-and-volley play, and slid an ace off the T to hold for 6-5.
In the tiebreaker, Navarro hit a deep return that drew a netted error from a stretched Townsend for the fifth straight mini break and a 3-2 lead. Townsend played the drop shot approach—and got burned as Navarro flicked a backhand pass crosscourt for 4-2.
You can’t fault Townsend for trying to attack, but her forehand approach was too central. Navarro whipped a crosscourt pass for 5-2.
Still, the lucky loser wasn’t done yet. Townsend fired her ninth ace down the T to close to 4-5.
When Townsend put a backhand into the tape, Navarro gained double match point.
On the first match point, Townsend played a loopy lob into the wind over Navarro’s head to close to 5-6.
On the second match point, Navarro fought off a body serve and Townsend sprayed a backhand to end it.
Reaching her maiden WTA 1000 semifinal, Navarro, who ended 2022 ranked No. 143, is now two victories from the title and from cracking the Top 10 for the first time.
“It’s pretty crazy—it’s something that a year ago I probably couldn’t have imagined,” Navarro said. “So it’s kind of surreal to be in this position now.”