In a dramatic turn of events at the U.S. Open, Emma Navarro emerged victorious over defending champion Coco Gauff in their intense fourth-round clash. Navarro triumphed with a scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, marking her second Grand Slam win against Gauff this year.
Gauff, seeded 13th, entered the match aiming to avenge her previous fourth-round loss to Navarro at Wimbledon. However, it was Navarro who stole the spotlight at Arthur Ashe Stadium with her aggressive play and strategic dominance, leaving the crowd in awe.
Despite her high expectations, Gauff struggled significantly on her serve, committing 19 double faults—matching her tally from the first three matches combined—and making 60 unforced errors. These challenges proved too much for the young American, who found herself searching for answers on the court.
Navarro's impressive win propels her into her second Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she is set to face Spain's Paula Badosa, the 26th seed. Meanwhile, Gauff's exit will see her drop out of the top five in the world rankings. In related action, Badosa secured her spot by defeating China's Wang Yafan 6-1, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Sunday.
Reflecting on her victory, Navarro shared her excitement: \"I lost in the first round last two years and now to be making quarter-finals is pretty insane. This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here. Coco's an amazing player and I have a ton of respect for her. I know she's going to come back here and win this thing again one year.\"
The match got off to a rocky start for Gauff, who served three double faults in her opening game, eliciting a hush from the crowd. She managed to recover by saving four break points to level the first set at 1-1, but Navarro's consistent performance ultimately secured her victory.
Reference(s):
Coco Gauff ousted by Emma Navarro from U.S. Open in fourth round
cgtn.com
