Emma Navarro saw her poor form continue after losing her opening match at Indian Wells.
Navarro has been ranked as high as world number eight, which she achieved in her breakthrough season in 2024.
After dropping out of the top 10 last year, Navarro has struggled to find form in 2026 and has since dropped out of the top 20.
Following Navarro’s defeat to Sonay Kartal, it is clear to see what is going wrong for the American.
Emma Navarro is far too passive in the big moments of her matches
Navarro twice served for the match against Kartal, and even had a match point, but she fell to a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2) defeat.
This means that Navarro has now lost 10 of her last 14 matches, and there is a clear issue presenting itself for the 24-year-old.
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On her rise up the rankings, Navarro was one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour from the baseline and forced players to outhit her.
However, that consistency appears to have gone for Navarro, who made multiple unforced errors in the third set.
Navarro was still able to produce some good tennis, which enabled her to find herself in a winning position, but her game falls apart more when the pressure is on.
With a lack of real weapons within her game, Navarro needs to work back to the consistency that she once had or these losses are only going to continue.
It is clear what Emma Navarro needs to do after Indian Wells exit
Navarro’s lack of confidence is clear to see, and there seems to be a clear decision for her to make now.
While there are some calling for Navarro to part ways with her coach Peter Ayers, who has worked with her since she was 14 years old, there is clearly a less drastic decision for her to make.
The biggest thing Navarro needs right now is confidence, and the best way to do that as a tennis player is by winning matches.
Therefore, Navarro should try and do anything she can to get a wildcard for the lower-level WTA 125 tournament in Austin next week.
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Two of the four wildcards have been awarded to Bianca Andreescu and Paula Badosa, and it would feel like a missed opportunity for Navarro not to request one for herself in a bid to try and boost her confidence.
This would make Navarro the top seed, and she should therefore get a kinder draw to increase her chances of returning to winning ways.
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