Emma Navarro sent shockwaves around the Wimbledon locker room yesterday after thrashing Coco Gauff to reach the quarter-final of the women’s draw.
The all-American affair was expected to go in the way of the world number two but Navarro showcased exactly why she can’t be discounted from winning at Wimbledon this year.
At 23-years-old, this is Navarro’s breakout tournament and she looks to be playing some brilliant tennis at the moment.
Gauff had no reply to her brilliance on Centre Court yesterday, with Navarro running out a 6-4, 6-3 winner to set up a last-eight berth against Jasmine Paolini.
Tracy Austin is a former American player who knows how to win a Grand Slam having tasted US Open glory in 1979 and 1981.
Yesterday she was in the commentary box as Navarro stunned one of the pre-tournament favourites and she noticed something that the player has improved on.
What Tracy Austin thinks Emma Navarro has really improved on
Navarro won’t forget this win over her compatriot but she will be keen to avoid her next match being a case of After the Lord Mayor’s Show.
Austin was extremely impressed with her performance yesterday and admitted she’d spotted something that Navarro has clearly worked on.
She told BBC Sport: “One thing (Emma) Navarro has improved a lot over the last 14 months is her service return position.
“She used to want to let the ball come down into her slot and she was six feet back, now she’s a lot more willing to hit the ball early and be attacking.”
Navarro now has huge Wimbledon chance
At 23, Navarro has bags of time on her side but this year’s tournament does feel like a big chance for the American player.
Paolini is also playing in a quarter-final at Wimbledon for the first time and both players will fancy their chances with how they are playing.
The Italian player came through in unfortunate circumstances, with Madison Keys retiring injured when on the cusp of reaching the quarter-final herself.
Should Navarro come through her last eight clash, she will face Lulu Sun, who conquered Emma Raducanu, or the unseeded Donna Vekic.
That would represent a huge chance for the world number 19 to reach a Wimbledon final and this feels like a golden opportunity.
Navarro has clearly worked extremely hard at her game and she will be itching to get on the court tomorrow after coming through against Gauff.
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