After beating Coco Gauff at Wimbledon, Emma Navarro could be the next US tennis star
The US already boasts a promising roster of young tennis stars but there is a new name on the scene.
Emma Navarro is quickly establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with on the senior tour, with the 23-year-old reaching the quarterfinals at this year’s Wimbledon.
As if to underline her credentials, Navarro beat reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff in straight sets – 6-4 6-3 – in the fourth round on Sunday to continue her best run at a grand slam.
“I don’t have a ton of words but just really grateful to be out here on Center Court at a tournament with so much history and tradition, that so many legends have played on before me,” Navarro said during her post-match interview after beating Gauff.
“It’s a real honor. I can’t wait to play again.”
Navarro’s form at this year’s Wimbledon follows what has already been an impressive season for the youngster.
The American reached the third round of the Australian Open earlier this year, before progressing to the fourth round at the French Open.
According to the WTA, she has won 33 tour-level matches in 2024, more than twice as many as she won last year, while $1,074,546 of her $1,847,241 in career prize money has been won in 2024 alone.
She claimed her first WTA title at the Hobart International in January and has risen from 149th in the world at the start of last season to her current position as world No. 17,
“I think that mindset has definitely helped me just not to look at a day like today as any different than any other match,” she said, per WTA, explaining her rise after reaching the quarterfinals.
“I think just being able to look at individual matches for what they are and not make them anything greater than that.”
While her rise through the ranks has been rapid, it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Navarro enjoyed a successful college career at Virginia, becoming the 2021 NCAA champion in her freshman year – a result which then qualified her for the US Open main draw, where she lost in the first round.
She decided to turn her full attention to professional tennis in 2022, finishing her college career with a record of 51-3 in singles matches.
Billionaire heiress
Just like compatriot Jessica Pegula, Navarro is the daughter of a billionaire.
Her father Ben Navarro is founder and CEO of Sherman Financial Group and is valued by Forbes as being worth $1.5 billion.
He has also invested heavily in tennis. In 2022, he paid nearly $300 million to buy the Cincinnati Open – a warmup event for the US Open every year.
In an interview with the Tennis Channel earlier this season, Navarro credited her calm demeanour and mindset to her dad.
“He’s probably the smartest guy I know and he’s dropped a lot of knowledge and wisdom on my siblings and I over the years,” she said.
“He’s taught me a bunch about the perspective I want to take into things, especially on-court stuff.”
Despite being set to inherit a fortune, Navarro looks determined to make her own name and has a chance to do exactly that at this year’s Wimbledon.
She will next face Italian Jasmine Paolini on Tuesday for a place in the semifinals.
Did Ronaldo play the last match in the Portugal jersey, what the coach said
Coach Roberto Martinez comforts Ronaldo after Portugal's loss AFP
Many are now saying 'goodbye' to him on social media. But Roberto Martínez doesn't see such a possibility for now. According to this Portugal coach, Cristiano Ronaldo has not played the last match for the national team. Portugal crashed out of the quarter-finals of the Euros after losing a 5-3 tiebreaker to France in Hamburg last night. This match is the 39-year-old Ronaldo's last match for Portugal - Portugal coach Martinez forbade thinking about such a thing "in advance".
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo, who won the 2016 Euro for Portugal, will now play in the 2026 World Cup. He will be 41 years old then. However, he has already informed that this is the last Euro in Ronaldo's career. Ronaldo, who is playing at the Euros for a record sixth time after beating Slovenia in the last 16, said this was the last, 'No doubt this is the last (Euros). , the love of the people...it's not about leaving the football world. What else is left for me to win or do?'
After Portugal's loss to France, Ronaldo's long-time teammate Pepe broke down in tears after holding Ronaldo's hand. Asked what Ronaldo told him about his future, Pepe told TV channel Channel 11, 'I won't say it in public. But we feel the pain. Contrary to what many people think. The disappointment of not winning the match is burning us. Having to leave such a big tournament despite knowing that there is a lot of good talent in the team, this pain is burning us.'
"I will have the opportunity to talk about it in the future," said Pepe, 41, about his future in the Portugal national team. I don't want to talk now. Because people will forget the process and talk about my future tomorrow.'
Ronaldo is goalless in 9 matches for Portugal. However, he wasted a great chance against France in extra time. Francisco Conceicao's cut back into the box. Suvarna could not score a goal even after realizing the opportunity. Hit it over the crossbar.
Copa America
Making history, Canada beat Argentina in the semi-finals
The joy of making Canadian history AFP
The previous day, Argentina confirmed the semi-final by winning the tiebreaker against Ecuador. Today, Canada and Venezuela took the field in the fight to be Lionel Messi's opponent in the last four. Like the previous match, the result did not come in the scheduled 90 minutes.
After a 1-1 tie, the match was decided by a tiebreaker. Canada made history by defeating Venezuela 4-3 in the penalty shootout and advanced to the semi-finals. Before them, in 2001, Honduras set the last example of reaching the semi-finals in the Copa America for the first time.
Canada, the co-host of the 2026 World Cup, has taken part in the Copa America for the first time. And for the first time on the stage of continental excellence, they made a surprise appearance in the semi-finals. Canada also played in the group stage against semi opponents Argentina. Although they played well in that match, they lost 2-0.
Today in Texas, both teams made the match on attack and counter-attack. In the beginning, however, Canada was more dominant than Venezuela, who scored the first goal of the match. Canada took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal by Jakov Schuffelberg. This forward from Nashville broke through the opponent's defense wall with a great attack from the right side.
Venezuela tried to return to the match after losing the goal. They also created a few chances in the next few minutes; However, parity was not restored in the end. Canada also began to respond to the attack of Venezuela. However, they could not increase the goal difference. The first half ended with attacks and counter-attacks.
After the break, the game continued in the same fashion. Both teams were trying to score. In the end, Venezuela equalized by getting the desired goal with a brilliant shot by Salomon Rondon. In the 64th minute of the match, a Canadian corner was turned into a counter-attack by Venezuela. Rondon started to run along the opposition box after receiving the ball from John Armburu.
UEFA Euro 2024: Portugal vs France quarterfinal match preview, start time
Neither Portugal nor France have been convincing at the tournament to date despite the array of talent at their disposal, but they have potential match-winners who only need an instant to find a decisive moment.
At the age of 39, Cristiano Ronaldo's goal-scoring powers are waning [Heiko Becker/Reuters]
Portugal and France head into their quarterfinal meeting as two tournament favourites that few actually expect to win Euro 2024.
It’s a mouth-watering encounter, filled with superstars on both sides, yet both have struggled to impress – most especially in attack.
Portugal’s campaign has seen a lot of ups and downs as the Selecao started with two wins before suffering a shock defeat to Georgia and needing a dramatic penalty shootout win over Slovenia to reach the quarterfinals.
While Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes have found the net, their veteran skipper Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled in front of goal. The 39-year-old, playing in a record sixth Euros, had a penalty saved against Slovenia in extra time in the round of 16, prompting him to burst into tears of frustration.
Ronaldo scored in the shootout that followed, but questions have been raised over his place in the lineup as his goal-scoring powers are on the wane. The Al Nassr forward has taken more shots than any other at Euro 2024 (20) but has not scored in his last eight tournament matches.
Will Mbappe or Griezmann outdo Ronaldo to ignite title bid?
Pre-tournament favourites and twice world champions France have also been sluggish, failing to score from open play in the tournament.
France’s stalwart forward Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty in his comeback against Poland after breaking his nose in their opener, while France’s other two goals have come courtesy of the opposition.
France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan said Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann have been singled out for unfair criticism.
“We all downplayed Mbappe’s broken nose a bit,” Stephan told reporters. “It doesn’t explain everything, but the shock was traumatic. The mask he is forced to play with is not easy, it’s difficult for his peripheral vision.
“He also had a somewhat tiring end to the season. But Kylian remains a top, top-level player. There are times when these top-level players are a little less good.
“With Griezmann, we’re talking about a player who has 133 caps, who has scored 44 goals, who, until last March, played more than 80 matches in a row for the France team,” he added.
The misfiring forward lines of both sides need to spark to life for both sides, as the winner of the contest awaits Germany or Spain in the semifinal in Munich.
Friday’s contest will be a repeat of the Euro 2016 final in Paris when Portugal stunned the hosts to win 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from striker Eder.
France are looking for their third triumph, while Portugal seek to add to their solitary 2016 title.
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