Emma Navarro Dubbed to Become Madrid Open Standout in a Bold Prediction by Ex-American Pro

The 2025 WTA season has been nothing short of a thrill ride, packed with jaw-dropping upsets and rising stars turning heads. Madison Keys lit the spark with her commanding Australian Open title run in January, followed closely by Amanda Anisimova’s sensational triumph in Qatar. But the moment that truly had fans buzzing? A fearless 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva capturing back-to-back titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, rewriting the script with every swing. Now, as the red clay spotlight shifts from Barcelona to Madrid, anticipation is sky high as former American ATP stalwart is rallying behind an unexpected name, Emma Navarro: a dark horse they believe could steal the WTA show and claim the crown at the Caja Mágica.

Emma Navarro’s 2025 campaign has been a tale of steady progress and quiet brilliance. With a 14–8 win-loss record till now, she’s carved out a season defined by resilience and timely sparks of excellence, like her impressive title run in Mérida. Though her journeys at the Sunshine Doubles were brief, her form has found new life on the clay. And where better to begin that spark than in Charleston, her hometown tournament, where she dazzled with a run to the QF, dispatching fellow Americans Hailey Baptiste and Ashlyn Krueger along the way.

In Stuttgart, the 23-year-old once again hinted at her ceiling, pushing through to the R16 before falling to eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko. With her rhythm returning on the red dirt, momentum is brewing just in time for Madrid. And she’s got a surprising vote of confidence from none other than former U.S. tennis powerhouse John Isner, who’s boldly tipped her as a dark horse for Madrid glory. 

Just hours ago, the official IG page of the Nothing Major Podcast dropped a surprise segment featuring hosts Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, and John Isner, as they revealed their player picks for the 2025 Madrid Open. Amid plenty of laughs and hot takes, it was John Isner’s choice that raised eyebrows as he backed Emma Navarro as his pick to make a deep run on the Madrid clay.

For reference, looking back at Navarro’s 2024 campaign in Madrid, the results were far from headline-grabbing. Fresh off a R16 finish at the Charleston Open, she managed to secure a tidy win over Nadia Podoroska in her opener. However, her momentum was short-lived as she was knocked out in straight sets by the then-11th seed Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Now, ready for her 2025 Madrid opener against Aussie youngster Maya Joint in just a few hours, Navarro made headlines off-court too, clearing the air with good humor after a hilarious pregnancy-related language mix-up during a press conference.

Emma Navarro cleared the air with her Spanish language mishap in Madrid

After a solid run in Stuttgart, Navarro took a short competitive break to reset and refine her clay game. She’s been spotted training hard on Madrid clay, fine-tuning her strokes and sharing the court with fellow players. But amid all the intense prep, one lighthearted moment has taken center stage on social media.

During a casual practice session, Navarro had a hilarious slip while trying to show off her Spanish. Attempting to say she was embarrassed, she mistakenly blurted out “estoy embarazada” which in Spanish means “I’m pregnant.” The moment had everyone in stitches, and the WTA 10th seed embraced the humor, sharing a fun compilation video on IG later filled with laughs, training snippets, and behind-the-scenes banter. “a few days of preparation in Madrid @mutuamadridopen (not to worry, I’m not pregnant 😂 language mishap),” she wrote in her IG post.

Navarro didn’t stop there as she also charmed fans with her budding Spanish skills. She proudly recounted how she managed to order a sandwich during Easter in the Spanish capital, although she admitted her father, Ben Navarro, asked her to visit a church that day, but all were closed. In a playful WTA video, she reenacted the entire story, proving her charisma extends well beyond the court.

“I speak a little bit of Spanish. My favorite food in Spain is a sandwich with ham and cheese. For Easter, I tried to find a church but, because my dad…my dad told me that I need to go to the church but, all of the churches were closed. So, I walked three miles,” Navvaro said. (translated from Spanish)

With the American leading player now focused on the Madrid clay court tournament, what level of success do you anticipate given her performance thus far in the 2025 season? Share your thoughts below.