There's no better way to celebrate a long holiday weekend at the US Open than with the third episode of 2024's hottest new series: the budding rivalry between Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro.
From the traditional grass courts at Wimbledon to the electric hard courts of their home Grand Slam, both player have a lot at stake in this Round 4 encounter in Queens. Gauff, the defending champion, has found her footing in her return to Queens after a tough summer, while Navarro reached her first major quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
Though they'll stand on opposite sides of the net on Sunday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the two have grown close after having the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. From being roommates and hanging around the Olympic Village, Gauff and Navarro got the chance to understand each other's personalities and build a new friendship on tour.
“I have a ton of respect for her,” Navarro said Friday after beating Marta Kostyuk in three sets in Round 3, extending her deepest-ever New York run into the second week. “It was really cool to be able to spend time together and grow our relationship. It's cool to have a friend on tour. Playing [against] each other, I think will be a great experience for both of us.”
Both matches between the two this year were decided in straight sets, but fans should have every reason to expect that Vol. 3 will be the most competitive. In their first ever meeting, in January's semifinals in Auckland, Gauff won handily in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. Six months later at Wimbledon, Navarro's rapid improvement showed as she upset the title contender and her compatriot in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the fourth round.
"I feel like that match at Wimbledon, I think I mentally just literally collapsed on the court,” Gauff said. “I was very frustrated, and she played well. That was, I think to me, the best tennis she played, [in] that tournament."
“Going into this match, I have to expect her to play her best tennis," Gauff continued, "and I just need to know that I need to bring it and mentally be there from the beginning to the end because she's going to be a tough opponent."
Coming into the year’s final major, both women produced completely different results.
Navarro came into New York with a 44-19 season record and a ton of match confidence. The 23-year-old made the semifinals in Toronto, losing to fellow Amanda Anisimova, and repeated the feat in Monterrey, where she was edged by eventual champion Linda Noskova. Gauff, meanwhile, posted a 1-2 record in her post-Paris events, losing handily to Diana Shnaider in Canada and at the first hurdle in Cincinnati to Yulia Putintseva.
But back in her happy place, with the support of the American fans in New York, Gauff has found her vintage fight, if not always her form. In her first two rounds, Gauff beat Varvara Gracheva and Tatjana Maria each in under 90 minutes, before rallying for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina in Round 3. Gauff and Jasmine Paolini make up the exclusive club of WTA players who've reached the fourth round or better at all four Grand Slams this year.
As for Navarro, heading into her first ever Round 4 match at the US Open, she is looking forward to fulfilling a tennis dream on one of the biggest stages in the sport.
“The biggest thing I want to do on Sunday is just take it all in, really enjoy the experience,” Navarro said. “I practiced on Ashe maybe three, four years ago when I was playing juniors, so maybe more than that.
“I remember it just felt so big. I was so dizzy. Just, like, out of sorts being on Ashe. Then I stepped in there [early Friday] morning. You know, it was probably half the size as I remembered it being. I think it's sort of a testament to how far I've come in this sport. I really just want to enjoy the experience.”
