In a remarkable turn of events, fast-rising American tennis player Emma Navarro secured her maiden WTA title by upsetting two-time champion Elise Mertens in a thrilling 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 victory at the Hobart International on Saturday.
This first-time encounter between the 22-year-old Navarro and the Belgian top seed unfolded as a grueling battle lasting 2 hours and 48 minutes, showcasing Navarro’s tenacity and skill on the court.
A year ago, Navarro held a ranking of 149, but her recent ascent to a career-high 31 highlights her impressive journey. Notably, she reached the semi-finals in Auckland earlier this month, further solidifying her presence in the tennis world.
With an impressive 8-1 record this season, Navarro is set to make her main draw debut at the Australian Open, where she will enter as the 27th seed and face China’s Wang Xiyu.
After securing the first set in a swift 35 minutes, Navarro faced a resurgence from second-seeded Mertens, who fought back to claim the second set. The Belgian, a two-time Hobart champion in 2017 and 2018, appeared poised to clinch the championship when she took a 5-4 lead in the third set.
However, Navarro exhibited resilience, winning the next two games to shift the momentum in her favor and ultimately closing out the match. This victory marks a significant milestone in Emma Navarro’s burgeoning career and sets the stage for her upcoming challenges on the tennis circuit.
