The 13th-seeded American, who ousted defending champion Coco Gauff in the previous round, maintained her impressive form to defeat the Spaniard 6-2, 7-5.
Navarro dominated the first set, breaking Badosa twice and capitalizing on the Spaniard’s unforced errors.
Badosa, appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2022 Australian Open, struggled to find her rhythm, committing 16 unforced errors compared to Navarro’s five in the opening set.
The second set witnessed a dramatic turnaround as Badosa surged to a 5-1 lead. However, the Spaniard’s momentum abruptly halted as Navarro mounted a stunning comeback. Capitalizing on a series of unforced errors from her opponent, Navarro claimed six consecutive games to seal the victory.
“When I got to 5-2, I had an inkling that I’d win in two sets. Semi-finals baby. I’m ready to rock,” said Navarro.
Badosa, who had contemplated retirement just three months prior due to a back injury, appeared hampered by physical limitations as the match progressed. She finished the encounter with 35 unforced errors, highlighting the stark contrast in consistency between the two players.
Navarro’s victory sets up a semifinal clash against either second seed Aryna Sabalenka or Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.
The American’s potential encounter with Zheng carries an added layer of intrigue following their contentious Olympic clash, where Navarro criticized Zheng’s on-court demeanour.
Despite the potential for a charged atmosphere, Navarro expressed confidence in her ability to handle the pressure of the semifinal stage.
