Jannik Sinner Makes Surprising Revelation About US Open Mixed Doubles Partner Emma Navarro

Jannik Sinner will also be aiming to defend his title at the US Open, where Emma Navarro reached the semifinal last year.

Jannik Sinner Makes Surprising Revelation About US Open Mixed Doubles Partner Emma Navarro

Jannik Sinner, Emma Navarro (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Univers Tennis)

Jannik Sinner will kick start his Wimbledon campaign against compatriot Luca Nardi, whom he has never faced in his career. Ahead of the tournament, Sinner talked about his US Open mixed doubles partner Emma Navarro.

The US Open mixed doubles event this week has been moved to the qualifying rounds and this move attracted many top players, including Sinner. The Italian, in the pre-tournament press conference was asked about Navarro as they are “one of the most unexpected pairings“.

It was very unexpected, to be honest (laughs). I just met her yesterday for the first time, and we never talked, we never texted each other. It’s actually a funny story. They kind of…the tournament…they wanted us to kind of play together because certain teams were already set up.

Sinner’s arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz will be playing the mixed doubles alongside Emma Raducanu, while Novak Djokovic will be competing with compatriot Olga Danilovic. Women’s World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will enter the tournament with Grigor Dimitrov, while Iga Swiatek has joined forces with Casper Ruud.

Navarro will start her Wimbledon campaign against Petra Kvitova. The World No.10 has won just the Merida Open Akron this year by beating Emiliana Arango. At Wimbledon, the 24-year-old has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals, reaching the stage last year (lost to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini).

While Sinner will be bidding to win his fourth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, Navarro will be hoping to reach a Major final for the first time. Her best performance in a tournament of this category came in 2024 when she made it to the final of the US Open and lost the match to eventual winner Sabalenka.

Novak Djokovic lauds Jannik Sinner for his conduct after his French Open defeat

Novak Djokovic was all praise for Jannik Sinner in the pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon. He was asked about Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial comments she made after her defeat to Coco Gauff.

Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros French Open 2025
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Roland Garros/X)

Djokovic defended the Belarusian, saying players sometimes fail to control their emotions, especially after a defeat in a Grand Slam final. He then praised Sinner’s conduct after he lost his French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.

If you look at Sinner and Alcaraz after five and a half hours of fighting, Jannik could have been bitter after losing that match. But he was gracious in his speech, he came back, he had a good tournament a week later and he’s here, he’s moving on. I think it sends the right message about the rivalry and the respect they have for each other, I think it’s beautiful to see.

Djokovic will be locking horns with France’s Alexandre Muller to start his bid for his eighth Wimbledon title. He is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title in the tournament and has reached every final of the grass-court Major since 2018, losing in the last two seasons to Alcaraz.

The Spaniard will enter Wimbledon as the two-time defending champion and he will also aim to complete the rare Channel Slam for two consecutive seasons. He will meet Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the first round and is projected to square off against Sinner in the final.

Sinner has never reached the championship match here. In 2023, Djokovic knocked him out in straight sets in the semifinals, while last year, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev ended his run in the quarterfinals.

Sinner and Alcaraz have shared the last six Grand Slam titles between them and the last player other than them to win a Major was Djokovic at the 2023 US Open. Since that victory, Djokovic only reached one Grand Slam final (2024 Wimbledon).

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