In a rematch of their meeting at Wimbledon, Emma Navarro and defending champion Coco Gauff will go head-to-head in the fourth round of the US Open.
If the first blockbuster all-American clash of this year’s US Open is anything to go by, Emma Navarro and Coco Gauff’s fourth round meeting will bring the fireworks.
In what was a slightly frustrating early meeting between two former semi-finalists, Frances Tiafoe advanced past Ben Shelton in five sets, making amends for last year’s quarterfinal defeat.
Gauff has been in worrying form since the French Open with little to no impact at Wimbledon and the Olympics, before alarm bells really started ringing this past month.
Securing one win out of three, Gauff cowered to Diana Shnaider in Toronto, before tightening up against Yulia Putintseva in Cincinnati, where she won last year.
Gauff was beaten by Navarro at Wimbledon in their last meeting, with the 23-year-old managing to forge her best major run to date with an appearance in the last eight.
With impressive three-set wins apiece over two high-ranking Ukrainians in round three, this fourth round clash is set to set New York alight.
Emma Navarro reveals friendship with Coco Gauff ahead of US Open match-up
With the two young Americans enjoying life at the top of the WTA, Navarro especially has enjoyed a breakout year on tour.
A maiden WTA title in Hobart at the start of the year has been added to by a Grand Slam quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon where she lost to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini.
With time together at the Olympics representing Team USA, Navarro was unequivocal in her assessment of Gauff.
“Yeah, I have a ton of respect for her,” she said. “It was really cool to be able to spend time together and grow our relationship [at the Olympics]. Yeah, it’s cool to have a friend on tour.”
With this set to be their third meeting, she added: “Playing each other I think will be a great experience for both of us.”
Can Coco Gauff get revenge on Emma Navarro?
Gauff will take comfort in her opponent’s record against top 10 players, with Navarro having lost six out of her nine outings against them.
In Auckland earlier this year, a tournament Gauff went on to win, the 20-year-old thrashed her compatriot, with Navarro winning just four games.
Wimbledon was another one-sided affair, with Navarro not missing a ball and Gauff’s forehand betraying her once again.
Feliciano Lopez issued a warning to Gauff after her third round win against Elina Svitolina, with the Spaniard still unconvinced by the American’s form.
The match of the day, American tennis fans will wait with bated breath to see if Gauff has properly dusted off the cobwebs from Cincinnati and can continue her bid for US Open title retention.
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