In a dramatic upset, Emma Navarro sent defending champion Coco Gauff packing from the US Open 2024, securing a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory in the fourth round. This marked the second time Navarro has defeated Gauff in a Grand Slam this year, having previously eliminated her in the fourth round of Wimbledon. The 13th seed displayed a captivating blend of aggression and dominance, leaving the third-seeded Gauff scrambling for answers. Gauff’s struggles on serve were particularly pronounced, as she committed a staggering 19 double faults, equaling her total from the first three rounds combined. She also racked up 60 unforced errors, contributing significantly to her demise.
With her triumph, Navarro advanced to her second Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she will face Spain’s 26th seed Paula Badosa. Meanwhile, Gauff’s loss will see her drop out of the top five in the world rankings. “I lost in the first round (in the) last two years and now to be making quarter-finals is pretty insane. This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here,” Navarro shared with reporters. She expressed admiration for Gauff, saying, “Coco’s an amazing player and I have a ton of respect for her. I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again one year.”
The match began with Gauff struggling on serve, committing three double faults in her opening service game. Despite recovering to level the first set at 1-1, she continued to make errors, playing on the defensive while Navarro dictated the rallies with confidence. A double fault on a break point handed Navarro a 4-2 lead in the first set. Although Gauff saved a set point on serve, Navarro’s strong serving ultimately sealed the opening set.
The second set mirrored the first, with both players holding serve initially. However, Navarro broke Gauff at 3-3 with a passing shot after a frantic scramble to the net. This seemed to jolt Gauff awake, as she broke back twice to win three consecutive games and force a deciding set. Gauff’s celebratory roar ignited the crowd, but their enthusiasm waned quickly as she served two consecutive double faults, gifting Navarro a break. Gauff continued to struggle, accumulating four double faults in one game at 4-2. Ultimately, two more double faults while serving to stay in the match proved to be her undoing as Navarro sealed her victory when Gauff’s return on match point sailed long.
“It was tough losing the second set. I had chances. I was up 30-love at 4-3 and then had a little bit of a lull there. But I was able to regroup after the second set and just come into the third set with a fresh mindset. I wanted to play aggressive tennis and I think I was able to do that,” Navarro reflected on her performance.
