Growing up between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina, forged Emma Navarro’s determined spirit as she rose to WTA Top 10, battling Grand Slam finalists with versatile tennis and staying grounded and playful off court, always eager to explore new places—“I love to walk around different cities and neighborhoods especially, just see how the people live or see the different architecture,” she once said, adding, “Things like that make me feel like I’m a little bit in touch with the local people and my surroundings”—a trait that shines in her friendships on tour, but what do you do when you’re away in a different country that doesn’t speak English?

Right now, as the WTA tour heads into the clay season, Emma is gearing up. After her dynamic run at the Merida Open last month, she fueled herself to make a statement on clay! However, she didn’t start strong—she exited in round two at Stuttgart. But there’s more to Emma than just one loss and she knows exactly how to bounce back!

With her early exit in Stuttgart, the American was free on Easter! While away, Emma followed her father, Ben Navarro’s, instructions to visit a church. And from that came an incredible story, in Spanish! Talking on the WTA Instagram page, she noted how she ordered lunch in Spanish.

Before diving into a display of her Spanish-speaking skills in a short story: “[Translated from Spanish] 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.” Everyone praised her, but she was humble about it.

“It was a little choppy,” Emma said. Still, it’s interesting to see an American, who has only ever known their language, reveal this side. And who would have thought that a search for churches on Easter would become “a whole story.” Not to mention how helpful this is for connecting with more people during her stay in Spain for the upcoming Madrid Open!

From an early age, Emma’s journey has been one of self-discovery, resilience, and unwavering faith. Above all, it’s the close bond she shares with her family that ties it all together. In fact, while Ben’s advice to visit church on Easter may have led to her flaunting her Spanish skills, she believes it’s his vision that led her to the US Open semifinal as well!

Emma credits her father for guiding her to tennis

Emma Navarro made headlines last year at the US Open by reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal. She won straight-sets over Paula Badosa, 6-2, 7-5. After the match, she emotionally thanked her father: “I wanna also thank my dad. I think he saw a vision from the time I was really young. 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.” Navarro dominated early, sweeping the first set in 29 minutes and breaking Badosa’s serve twice.

Emma often credits her father for his wisdom. Ben, founder of Sherman Financial Group, may be a billionaire off the court, but courtside, he’s just a proud dad. Their bond shone at the Merida Open, where Emma, the top seed, won her biggest title without dropping a set, beating Emiliana Arango with a double bagel in the final.

The celebration was unforgettable. After lifting the trophy, Emma and her dad wore traditional Mexican sombreros and danced to the crowd’s cheers. Ben even gave Emma a twirl, creating a heartwarming moment that showed their happy relationship.

As Emma prepares for the Madrid Open, perhaps we’ll see more father-daughter moments—and maybe more Spanish from the American star. With her dad’s vision guiding her, Emma’s journey is about family, faith, and tennis. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!