Emma Navarro staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the second set to defeat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5 in the US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday.
With this victory, Navarro secures a spot in the semifinals, marking her deepest advancement in a Grand Slam event as the 13th seed. She is set to face off against No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who secured a 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 7 seed Zheng Qinwen of China.
Navarro’s impressive performance adds to the success of American players in the tournament, with Taylor Fritz also securing a spot in the semifinals after defeating No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev.
Navarro’s dominance was evident from the start as she quickly took control of the match, securing a break in the opening set. Despite facing a tough challenge in the second set, Navarro’s determination and the support of the New York crowd propelled her to victory.
Reflecting on her win, Navarro expressed her confidence and resilience in the face of adversity, stating, “Even if I did lose the second set, I wanted to kind of set the tone for the third set.”
Having previously been eliminated in the early rounds, Navarro’s current success signals a potential breakthrough as she aims for her first US Open title.
Navarro’s advancement, alongside other American players like Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, sets the stage for an exciting semifinal round with the possibility of an all-American final.
As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming matches, including Jessica Pegula’s showdown against defending champion Iga Świątek.