US Open 2024: Emma Navarro beats Paula Badosa to reach first Slam semi-final
In her post-match interview, Navarro, who was born in New York, thanked her family for their support and helping her become a professional.
She said: “I also want to say ‘thanks’ to my dad because he saw a vision from when I was really young.
“He knew maybe I was a little bit ADHD or something to be sat in a classroom or in a 9-5 and I think he saw something in me from a young age. Thanks dad for sending me on this journey.”
Navarro had only won one match at the main stage of a Grand Slam before this year, but has got better and better throughout her breakout year of 2024.
She reached the third round of the Australian Open, the last 16 at the French Open, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and now the semi-finals of her home Slam.
“After I got it back to 5-2, I had a bit of an inkling that it might be two sets,” added Navarro. “I just wanted to stay really tough and stick in there and even if I did lose the second set, I wanted to set the tone for the third set.
“Just really happy with my performance today. Crazy to be moving on to the semi-finals. US Open baby.”
Navarro beat 2023 champion and fellow American Coco Gauff 6-3 4-6 6-3 in the last 16 and, when asked what reaching the semi-final meant to her, she replied: “It means so much to me. My coach and I have been together since I was 14 or 15 so it’s been eight years now.
“We’ve done a lot of great work together. Thank you for everything you do, all your dedication and the time you put into this journey and making me into the player that I am.”
