American Emma Navarro staged a remarkable comeback in the second set to advance to her maiden Grand Slam semifinal, defeating Spain's Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5 at the US Open on Tuesday. In a clash between two New York-born players, Navarro, who previously ousted defending champion Coco Gauff, capitalized on Badosa's sudden lapse in form, winning 24 of the final 28 points to secure the match in just 72 minutes.
Navarro acknowledged the lessons she drew from her Wimbledon campaign, where she also defeated Gauff before being ousted by Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals. 'I think at Wimbledon, I let myself get caught up in emotions that weren't necessary,' Navarro reflected. 'Today, I felt more at ease and was prepared to perform at my best. I believe I've reached a stage in my career where I'm no longer intimidated by any outcome or the prospect of a deep run in any tournament.'
Navarro seized an early advantage to lead 3-0, relying heavily on her formidable forehand and successfully defending against the two break points she encountered, thus convincingly taking the first set.
