During the U.S. Open quarterfinals in New York on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Emma Navarro from the U.S. hits a return shot to Spain's Paula Badosa. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Emma Navarro's dream run at the U.S. Open has led her to her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal, where she'll face Aryna Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open champion. Navarro, seeded 13th, secured her spot in the semifinals with an impressive comeback win against Paula Badosa. After trailing 5-1 in the second set, Navarro stormed back, clinching six consecutive games for a 6-2, 7-5 victory at Flushing Meadows.
Navarro's path to the semifinals has been full of surprises. She eliminated defending champion Coco Gauff in the earlier rounds, demonstrating her growing confidence on the big stage. Reflecting on her comeback, Navarro mentioned that even when down, she never imagined the match going to a third set. "I just felt I could come back and finish it in two," she said after the match.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka, who aims for her second Grand Slam title this year, dominated her quarterfinal match against China's Zheng Qinwen. In a rematch of the Australian Open final, Sabalenka cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory. With tennis legend Roger Federer watching from the stands, Sabalenka displayed her trademark power, securing her place in the U.S. Open semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.
Sabalenka, who was runner-up to Gauff last year, acknowledged Federer's presence in the crowd, adding a bit of humor: "I knew he was here for the match after mine, but I wanted to play my best tennis so he'd enjoy it too."
Sabalenka is now looking to join an elite group of players, aiming to win both the Australian Open and U.S. Open in the same year, a feat last achieved by Angelique Kerber in 2016. Despite her strong performance, Sabalenka's opponent Zheng expressed regret over her nerves, saying she plans to be more relaxed next time they face off.
The U.S. Open women's semifinals will continue to take shape on Wednesday when top-seeded Iga Swiatek plays Jessica Pegula, and Karolina Muchova faces Beatriz Haddad Maia.
In the men's draw, American players have also made a strong impact. Taylor Fritz secured his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance after defeating Alexander Zverev in a hard-fought match. Fritz, seeded 12th, triumphed over Zverev, the 2020 U.S. Open runner-up, with a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory. This win marked Fritz's breakthrough after four previous losses in Grand Slam quarterfinals.
"I've been here before, but today felt different. I knew it was my time to go further," Fritz said about his long-awaited semifinal appearance.
Adding to the U.S. success story, Frances Tiafoe also reached the semifinals, as his opponent Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury. Tiafoe was leading the match 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3, 4-1 when Dimitrov had to stop. Tiafoe and Fritz will face off in the semifinals, guaranteeing a U.S. finalist at the tournament for the first time since 2006.
Navarro's remarkable journey at this year’s U.S. Open is all the more impressive given that she had never won a main-draw match at her home Grand Slam before. Her tenacity in her quarterfinal match against Badosa, where she fought back from the brink of a third set, showcased her growing maturity as a player.
Badosa, frustrated by her performance, admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of trying to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. "I played a few good games, but I never really found my rhythm," Badosa said after the match. She lost a significant number of consecutive points and was left wondering what went wrong.
Navarro's performance at this year's U.S. Open mirrors her earlier success at Wimbledon, where she defeated Gauff in the fourth round. Although she lost in the following round, her confidence has only grown since then. As she prepares for her semifinal against Sabalenka, Navarro will be hoping to continue her winning streak and reach her first Grand Slam final.
