Emma Navarro makes unwanted history at the French Open after a shock first round defeat

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Emma Navarro has already exited this year’s French Open after losing in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Navarro reached the fourth round of the French Open last year, her best ever result at the clay court major.

This was part of a breakthrough year for the American, with Navarro breaking into the top 10 of the WTA rankings after reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and semi-finals of the US Open.

However, Navarro has struggled for that same form in recent weeks, highlighted by her first round result at the French Open.

Emma Navarro makes unwanted history after shock French Open defeat

In her first round match at the French Open this year, Navarro was beaten by the aforementioned Bouzas Maneiro, 6-0 6-1.

Navarro lost the first 11 games of this match, with Bouzas Maneiro actually serving for a double bagel before being broken.

This is only the third time in the last 40 years of the French Open that a top 10 WTA player has won only one game.

The other two instances of that happening were when Serena Williams beat Sara Errani in the 2013 semi-finals, and Steffi Graf beating Gabriela Sabatini in the 1995 quarter-finals.

Both of these players were top 10 seeds at the French Open, while Bouzas Maneiro is ranked down at world number 68 and had never won a main draw match at the clay court major before.

What is next for Emma Navarro?

Navarro will lose 230 ranking points after her first round loss at the French Open, and could drop outside the top 10 by the end of the tournament.

The world number nine is now expected to switch her attention to the grass, where she found success at Wimbledon last year.

First on Navarro’s radar will be the WTA tournament at Queen’s Club, that is returning after 52 years.

She will then head to the German capital of Berlin for another WTA 500 event, before heading to Wimbledon.

It remains unclear if Navarro will decide to take a wildcard to any other tournaments before then, as she looks to put this latest defeat behind her.