Emma Navarro: Mastering the Art of Three-Set Matches

Vegas Tennis Team
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Emma Navarro: Mastering the Art of Three-Set Matches

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday, January 20, 2025

After securing her victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the third round, Emma Navarro opened up on the court about her intense bike training sessions with her father, Ben. “We coined the phrase ‘biking and crying,’ as we’d often find ourselves teary-eyed and exhausted after pedaling for six hours, especially when tackling steep hills,” Navarro explained. “That experience really built my resilience.”

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This resilience has clearly paid off for Navarro in Melbourne. In an exhilarating match on Monday night, she triumphed over Russia’s Daria Kasatkina with a scoreline of 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, marking her fourth consecutive three-set win. Despite missing three match points in the second set, Navarro showcased remarkable mental strength to rally and secure her victory against the No. 9 seed.

The 23-year-old has now captured seven consecutive deciding sets in major tournaments, with eight wins out of nine overall. Reflecting on her success in Melbourne, she attributes a lot of it to her mental fortitude. Up next is a challenging quarterfinal against No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek, following a journey that has not come easy.

“It feels like a real test of mental strength above anything else,” Navarro stated. “My rigorous training has prepared me well for those long matches, whether they last two or three hours. I can confidently say that my fitness level has been a key asset in my first four matches here.”

Surprisingly, Navarro feels she has yet to tap into her peak performance at this Australian Open. Remarkably, she has advanced to her first-ever quarterfinal without showcasing her best game.

Experience can often be a critical factor in pulling off victories in three-set matches at Grand Slam events, but Navarro, with just nine main draw appearances, is leaning heavily on a grit that seems to be ingrained in her character.

“It’s really about mental toughness for me,” she shared. “I don’t think I’ve played my best tennis yet. However, today was a significant improvement, and I believe each match is bringing me closer to my top form.”

With a record of 10-2 in three-setters at the majors and an overall tally of 28-15, her commitment to fitness and development has been crucial in reaching the quarterfinals in her last three Grand Slam outings.

In the upcoming quarterfinal, she’ll face a formidable opponent in the five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who has breezed through the competition, dropping a mere 11 games in four matches—considerably fewer than Navarro’s 61. The American recognizes the need to bring her best game to compete against Swiatek’s explosive style.

The two have faced each other once before, with Navarro suffering a 6-0, 6-2 defeat to the Polish superstar at an 80K challenger event in 2018.

“Looking back at that match, I can admit I was quite overwhelmed. I remember feeling, ‘Wow, this girl is exceptionally talented,’ even back then when she was ranked around 200,” Navarro recalled, reflecting on their previous encounter at her home club in Charleston.

Now riding a wave of confidence in both her game and fitness, Navarro feels ready for a different outcome this time around.

“The circumstances have changed significantly. I know my abilities well and am fully prepared for this challenge.”

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