American rising star Emma Navarro impressed the ongoing Australian Open crowd with a third-round victory over Ons Jabeur at Margaret Court Arena, sealing the match in three sets by 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. This victory marks another milestone in Navarro’s brilliant Slam run, following her wins over Wang Xiyu in the second round and Peyton Stearns in the first. However, behind every rising star, lies a guiding force, and for the WTA number eight, it is her longtime coach, Peter Ayers, a name that now deserves spotlight alongside Navarro. So, how did he craft the brilliance of one of the sport’s most promising stars?

Ayers, a Charlotte-born, former All-American player at Duke University, once competed on the ATP Challenger and Futures tours before starting his career as a coach. His philosophy? Mastering the small details. “To be great at the little things,” Ayers preaches, a method highlighting meticulous sports preparation. These principles have shaped Navarro’s journey, proving that greatness often lies in the game’s finer details.

Their story began when Ayers first saw an 11-year-old Navarro play. Fate played its part when he joined LTP Tennis later, a training facility owned by Emma’s father, Ben Navarro, and Charleston Tennis LLC. As Ayers and his wife thought about settling on Daniel Island, he sent his resume to local tennis academies. “LTP was the one that had a place for me,” he revealed. Though he had previously worked with top-tier players, moving to a new place meant starting from scratch. He found a prodigy and together, they embarked on an extraordinary journey.

The player-coach duo has achieved significant career milestones, including Navarro’s first WTA Tour Title at the 2024 Hobart International. The WTA number eight has often credited Ayers for his dedication and commitment on her career. Reflecting on her performance at the 2019 Roland Garros Junior Championship, Navarro said, “My coach, Peter Ayers, is the most dedicated man I’ve ever met. He’ll do whatever it takes to give me what I need or help me to improve.” Such words aren’t just praise but also a testament to their collaboration built on trust.

Even during Navarro’s debut Australian Open run last year, she acknowledged her coach Ayers’ support. “I don’t know if I could put words to the emotions, but it’s been a lot of years in the making. My coach (Peter Ayers) and I have been together for eight years, I think. From where we started to now, it’s really crazy to think about,” she confessed.

When Ayers first began coaching Navarro, he recognized the solid foundation the WTA star already possessed. His mission was clear: to help her unlock her fullest potential. At the time, professional tennis wasn’t Navarro’s primary goal, but as she evolved under his guidance, the thrill of self-improvement fueled her passion. Now, with every match, she edges closer to becoming a formidable Grand Slam contender. So, what exactly has Ayers taught her that ignites this remarkable progress?

Coach Peter Ayers believed Emma Navarro is a “perfectionist”

After the 2024 US Open, Ayers reflected on his mentorship in a media interview, remembering an interesting conversation with Navarro when she was 14. They discussed her “perfectionist” mindset, and encouraged her to channel it in “a healthy, sustainable way.”

The most important skill, he said, was resilience. “You have to be perfect at bouncing back,” he told Navarro, highlighting that adversity is a part of the sport. Navarro showed this quality in her 2024 US Open fourth-round match against Coco Gauff. Despite struggling in the second set, she bounced back with determination in the third, securing her win.

Ayers recognized Navarro’s potential from the very beginning. He noted the WTA star’s exceptional coordination, describing how her “combination of eyes and hands was something special.” Their partnership started with refining her forehand stroke. “I had never been around someone who just purely struck the ball over and over again,” Ayers revealed.

Emma Navarro’s inspiring rise in her professional career highlights the brilliance of her coach. But will she live up to the expectations of the coach in the ongoing Australian Open?