American Emma Navarro delivered a powerful performance on Tuesday, defeating Spain's Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5 to secure her first Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open.
The New York-born baseliner showcased her resilience and skill, especially after overcoming defending champion Coco Gauff in the previous round. Navarro dominated the latter stages of the match, winning 24 of the last 28 points and clinching victory in just 72 minutes.
Reflecting on her journey, Navarro shared, \"I think maybe at Wimbledon I talked myself into some emotions I didn't necessarily feel or need to feel, you know, being in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. So, coming out on the court here today I felt much more comfortable and yeah, I was ready to rock and I think I'm at the point in my career where I'm not scared of any result or making a run in any tournament.\"
Navarro's strong forehand and mental toughness were key factors in her win, particularly after Badosa took an early lead in the second set. Despite Badosa's impressive start, Navarro remained focused and secured the match with her fifth break.
In other quarterfinal action, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus defeated Zheng Qinwen of China 6-1, 6-2, setting up a highly anticipated semifinal clash between Sabalenka and Navarro.
Reference(s):
Emma Navarro denies Paula Badosa, secures spot in U.S. Open semifinals
cgtn.com
