Emma Navarro is on a surefire trajectory to her first Grand Slam. The 23-year-old just ousted defending champion Coco Gauff in a thrilling R16 victory and looks ready to take on Paula Badosa next. It’s been a tough few years for Badosa, who for the first time ever, has gone past the second round at the American major. But ready to end her reign is young Navarro, even though Badosa holds a 1-0 record over her. However, will Navarro’s billionaire dad be in attendance for the QF?

Ben Navarro has been a constant presence in his daughter’s box this year and was there when Navarro reached another Grand Slam quarterfinal at SW-19. “My dad has always been in my corner, getting me the coaching and training, whatever I needed,” the World No. 12 says. Today, Ben, most likely, will once again grace the courtside as his daughter looks poised to advance further in the US Open.

After defeating Gauff, Navarro reflected on the past, “I lost in the first round the last two years, and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane. This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here.” The season has seen a meteoric rise for the 2023 NCAA singles champion from the University of Virginia. She has 42 wins to her name, with only the World No. 1, Iga Swiatek, having more.

And consistently by Navarro’s side has been her dad, who she says is “probably the smartest guy I know.” The founder of Sherman Financial Group has long been associated with tennis. Although Emma was born in NYC, she grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. A fun fact is that Ben Navarro is the owner of the largest WTA tournament in the city, renamed the Credit One Charleston Open.

“As a fan, father, and business owner, tennis has brought so much to our family. Junior tennis has provided a place for our children to learn a work ethic, develop a friendship through shared struggle, and learn to handle disappointment, defeat, and sometimes even unfairness,” Navarro told Post and Courier in 2019. He is the one who introduced tennis to Emma, without which we might not have seen a new WTA star on the rise today.

“He wanted it to be a family sport,” Emma Navarro told Charleston Magazine in 2021. “I have two older brothers, and they both played. As soon as I was old enough and strong enough to hold a racquet, I was out there on the court with them.”

Interestingly, while the Navarros are well-off, given Ben’s $1.5 billion net worth per Forbes, Emma says her dad has always stressed the importance of education no matter what. While this gave her something of a slow start on the WTA Tour compared to her peers, the 23-year-old is making fine use of her experience this season. This father/ daughter duo might appear tense at matches, but they have a hilarious commonality as well.

Ben and Emma Navarro don’t take things “too seriously”

When playing a pro sport, the utmost concentration on one’s craft is what brings in the rewards. But at times, as Emma Navarro says, it’s okay to let things go and have some lighthearted fun. In a recent interview, the question was posed, “Where did you get your humor? Whether parents, your [college] years in Virginia…or a standout moment…?”

In response, the young American said, “My dad is really funny, and he has seven siblings. I think I get my humor from him and I think it is important to not take yourself too seriously and not the things too seriously.”

Well, mixing high-stakes sport and a dash of humor never hurt anyone! Now as she looks to take on Paula Badosa in an epic clash, Emma Navarro will be relying on her skill and mentality to take the ticket to the semis. And cheering on for her from the sidelines will be Ben Navarro.