“Like a predator in woods,” Former No.9 explains why Emma Navarro ‘keeps beating’ compatriot Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff is 1-2 against Emma Navarro in their head-to-head contest as she lost to the 23-year-old twice in Grand Slam events in 2024.
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Emma Navarro, Coco Gauff (Images via X)
Emma Navarro won the WTA’s most improved player in 2024 thanks to her first tour-level title she clinched at the Hobart International in January earlier this year. Navarro then finished the season by reaching a career-high ranking of No. 8.
She also made her Grand Slam debut in Australia and reached the third round. Navarro did even better in the next three Major tournaments. She played the fourth round at the French Open, the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and the semifinals at the US Open.
Twice she defeated Coco Gauff this year in their three meetings and Andrea Petkovic, while lauding Navarro, explained why she thinks the 23-year-old has better records over the World No.3.
I think she is just a bit behind the best five players in the world right now, but I definitely see her making the quarters. Her biggest strength is that she reads energies of the game, that’s why she keeps beating Coco Gauff. It’s like a predator in the woods, she smells the nervousness on the other side. It was the same against Paula [Badosa], 5-1 and then Emma just didn’t miss a ball, and back to 5-5.
Andrea Petkovic said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast
Gauff met her compatriot for the first time in the semifinal of the ASB Classic which she later won. Their next meeting was in the fourth round of the Wimbledon and Navarro went past her in straight sets.
Navarro then caused one of the biggest upsets at the US Open after she overcame Gauff, who was the defending champion, in three sets in the fourth round before losing to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Coco Gauff set to play in the United Cup in Australia
Coco Gauff, who is eyeing her first Australian Open, has arrived in Perth, but for the United Cup where she will be playing mixed doubles with compatriot Taylor Fritz. The tournament starts on December 27 and ahead of it, Gauff expressed her hope of performing better in the tournament.
We’re both coming off a good year-end. And it’ll be our second time playing together. So hopefully, we can do even better than the Olympics.
Coco Gauff said (via ATP Tour)
The 20-year-old had ended her 2024 season by winning her first WTA Finals title with a win over Qinwen Zheng. Fritz also progressed to the summit clash of the ATP Finals but failed to overcome World No.1 Jannik Sinner.
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Gouri Das
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