Emma Navarro is leading the American charge with flair and fire! The rising star is making waves on the court, and her latest victory against Paula Badosa is just another feather in her cap. But as she gears up for her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal, it seems the road isn’t entirely smooth— as it’s peppered with a few cheeky digs and playful teases. And who’s behind the fun? None other than Serena Williams’ ex-coach and a tennis legend in her own right, Rennae Stubbs. 

With a wink and a nudge, Stubbs has been keeping Navarro on her toes, adding a dash of humor to the high-stakes atmosphere. Soon after the American sensation baffled Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5, she engaged in a post-match interview with Stubbs where she was seemingly teased about her latest rivalry with Qinwen Zheng. 

Quizzing Navarro on her perspective about her next opponent which can either be Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng, Stubbs questioned, “You play the winner of tonight’s match with, Sabalenka and I’ve just blanked on who it is but.. Zheng, sorry, Zheng. Give me your thoughts on those two in particular.” This was, however, received by Navarro with a smile. Although she turned red-faced, she pointed a finger at Stubbs in a playful gesture, which signified that she perceived the statement as a playful tease. However, Stubbs clarified her stance and said, “No, No!”

The feud between Navarro and Zheng began after their intense three-set match in the third round of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Zheng, the eventual gold medalist, took down Navarro 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1. The atmosphere during the match was already heated up and Navarro couldn’t hold back from expressing her frustration in the aftermath of her defeat, as she engaged in a tense exchange with Zheng during the customary handshake.

 “I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said in a post-match interview. “I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way.” However, despite the apparent tease from Stubbs, the American did not fail to laud Zheng’s talent. 

Speaking about both Sabalenka and Zheng, Navarro said, “I think they are great players…they will have a great battle but I will be up for the challenge with either of them. Both big servers, big hitters. I think they will come aggressively at me whichever one it is.”

Sabalenka and Zheng will meet each other at the US Open quarterfinal and the winner will play against Navarro. Meanwhile, amidst the playfulness of the tennis courts, Navarro did not fail to share a beautiful message for her dad as well.

Emma Navarro shares a beautiful message for her father after advancing to the US Open semifinals

Emma Navarro has witnessed immense success recently and her latest prowess at her home ground is nothing but spectacular. She acknowledged the efforts of her father Ben Navarro. Soon after the victory, Navarro said, “I wanna also thank my dad. I think he saw a vision from the time I was really young.”

Ben is the founder and chief operating officer of the Sherman Financial Group that runs Credit One. His love for tennis is not new. The 61-year-old has often been seen watching his superstar daughter practice and play on the courts. Talking about him further, Emma said, “He knew maybe I was a bit ADHD or something to be a sitting in a classroom or a 9 to 5. He saw something in me from a young age. So thanks Dad for sending me on this journey.”

Emma Navarro gears up to play in the US Open semifinals now, as she has the opportunity to convert this US Open into her most successful Grand Slam event ever. Do you think she can win the tournament? Let us know in the comments below.