Navarro had never advanced past the first round at Flushing Meadows prior to this, as per AP.
“I believe that I can play tennis with the best players in the world.I deserve to be on this stage,” Navarro said. “I belong in these rounds of Grand Slams. I can make deep runs.”
Navarro, 23, grew up in South Carolina but was born in New York, something she made sure to note in her post-match interview at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Ben, her father, founded Sherman Financial Group and is its billionaire CEO. In 2018, he made an effort to purchase the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. He owns the Charleston WTA Tour tournament.
Navarro attended the University of Virginia to play collegiate tennis, where as a freshman in 2021 she helped the team win the NCAA singles championship.
“When I first left college, my coach and I kind of made a two-year contract that I would fully commit myself to playing professional tennis for two years and then kind of just reassess after that,” said Navarro, who will face Paula Badosa of Spain on Tuesday. “I think I hit the two-year mark this June, and we didn’t even acknowledge it or talk about it. So definitely have surpassed my expectations, for sure. I hope to just keep getting better.”
From No. 143 at the end of 2022 to No. 38 at the end of the previous year, to her current career-best No. 12, Navarro has been rapidly rising in the rankings. Because the US Open seedings were determined by rankings from prior to last month’s draw, she is ranked thirteenth.
This season has truly been a breakthrough. At January of 2024, she won her first WTA championship at Hobart, Australia, on a hard court that is also used for the US Open. She is 49-19 overall.
“In the past, I’ve seen choices on court – like taking the ball on the rise or moving forward to hit a forehand as opposed to moving back, stuff like that. Those have been choices in the past. Now I see those types of situations as less of a choice and more of, like: I have to take this on in this way,” explained Navarro, who rarely shows much emotion during a match. “Partially because the players I’m playing against, they’ll shut it down if I don’t make that more confident, aggressive choice. And, also, just because I think I have more belief in myself to be able to actually execute those types of shots.”
She has only participated in eight Grand Slam events, and the 2024 US Open is the second in which she has advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Gauff.
Navarro prevailed 6-4, 6-3 in their July Wimbledon fourth-round game as well. Navarro also defeated four-time major champion Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon earlier at the All England Club.
Navarro had a 6-5 record in majors prior to that performance, which concluded in a quarterfinal loss to Jasmine Paolini. She had also gone 0-2 at the US Open, where she lost in the first round in 2021 and 2023.
“It’s pretty insane just to talk about winning a Grand Slam or winning a tournament like the U.S. Open. A few months ago, even I wouldn’t have said that,” Navarro said. “So it’s pretty crazy to be sitting here now and have the quarterfinals ahead of me and feel like I’m playing good enough to keep it going.”
With 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors overall, Gauff damaged herself, although she did give respect to Navarro for applying pressure to her serve and showing the same diversity as in their Wimbledon match.
“In the future, I have to take care of my serve. She’s a great returner. She does a great job with just redirecting,” Gauff said. “She’s kind of an all-court player. She can do everything.”
After competing together for the United States at the Paris Games, the two became friends.
Navarro expressed her admiration for Gauff, and after the game, they shared an embrace at the net.
“She’s super funny. She’s kind of the opposite of how she is on court. She has a lot of personality, but she doesn’t show it as much to you guys,” Gauff said. “She’s super nice. I always root for her. It was a battle today, but if you had to lose, I would rather lose to a good person off the court, you know?”
