When you think of the current American tennis stars, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Danielle Collins might be the first names to come to mind. But tennis is a sport that thrives on diversity, and in that diversity lies a rising star who is quietly making her way up the rankings—Emma Navarro. Navarro may not be a household name like her peers yet, but her journey is just as compelling. With every match, she brings a blend of tenacity, skill, and a quiet determination that speaks volumes. And now, she is leaving her peers behind on the tennis circuits as well. 

Navarro is currently marking her dominance at the ongoing Canadian Open. Playing in the quarterfinal match against compatriot Taylor Townsend, the 23-year-old secured a handsome victory, as she outshined her opponent in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(5). But what further caught the attention of the tennis community was the remarkable records she made along the way.

It will be the first time in her career that Navarro will be playing in the semi-finals of a WTA 1000 event. As she gears up for her next match, her records this season cannot be ignored. The WTA star has outshined her compatriots Gauff and Danielle Collins in terms of the number of matches won this season.

Navarro’s latest win over Townsend was her 39th victory in the season, as she left behind Gauff and Collins, both of whom have won 38 matches each. Now, Navarro is only behind Iga Swiatek (52 matches) and Elena Rybakina (40 matches). Remember, these numbers do not include the matches from the Billie Jean King Cup that took place this season.

These stats make Navarro a fierce face ahead of the US Open. The American star has made a significant jump in the rankings as well, as she is now at the 13th spot, per the live ranking data.

While the ongoing hard-court campaign will give Navarro a confidence boost, her victory against the reigning US Open champion Gauff at the recently concluded Wimbledon, where she eventually reached the quarterfinals, will also add to her morale as she gears up for another Grand Slam. But besides the on-court battle, there is one more battle off the court that the tennis star needs to resolve at the earliest.

Navarro’s tussle with Qinwen Zheng takes a new form

Navarro is not only known for her aggressive demeanor on the court but her fierce style off of it as well. As the star player gears up for the US Open, she must be looking to overcome her tussle with the Olympic Gold Medalist Qinwen Zheng. After losing to Zheng in the third round of the Olympics, Navarro had quite a bit to say about her opponent.

“I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said in the post-match interview. “I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way. It makes for a locker room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect. But, kudos to her, she played some good tennis there at the end. She played better than me, so congrats to her,” the American WTA star added. While many assumed it to be a one-time feud, it has now taken a new turn.

Ahead of the Cincinnati Open, Zheng shared a picture of herself in a hoodie that had the caption, “Medaling isn’t for everyone,” etched over it. While Zheng did not make any mention directly, several tennis enthusiasts believe it was her response to Navarro, as the American couldn’t win a medal at the Paris Olympics.

It would be interesting to see if Navarro gains confidence from her recent form and draws inspiration from an apparent dig by Zheng to win big at the Flushing Meadows. What do you think about Navarro’s chances at the US Open? Let us know in the comments below.