An exciting all-American showdown is set for the fourth round of Wimbledon as Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro prepare to face off.
On Friday, the No. 2 seed Gauff secured her place in the match by defeating Sonay Kartal 6-4, 6-0, setting up a thrilling contest against the No. 19 seed Navarro.
Sunday’s match will offer the winner a coveted spot in the quarterfinals, a first for either player at Wimbledon. Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, expressed her high aspirations following her victory.
“At this point, it feels as if losing in the fourth or the quarterfinals feels the same, in a way, just because I do have such big aspirations,” Gauff, 20, stated.
Gauff and Navarro, 23, have faced each other before, with Gauff emerging victorious in straight sets during the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland in January.
Reflecting on that match, Navarro said:
“I think when I played her at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t necessarily ready for that challenge. I know I have the level inside of me that can beat a player like her. It’s maybe just a matter of doing it on a bigger stage.”
Navarro, in only her second Wimbledon appearance, has shown remarkable progress, achieving career highs in Grand Slams this year by reaching the round of 32 at the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the French Open.
Her impressive run in London includes a notable victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the second round. Navarro continued her strong performance by overcoming Diana Shnaider in a tough three-set battle, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Gauff acknowledges the challenge ahead, praising Navarro’s talent and recent form.
“I always knew she was going to be a talented player,” Gauff remarked in an ESPN interview. “What I expect, she is definitely going to play a lot better. I think she’s gonna be really relaxed, she’s already had some great wins this tournament. It’s going to be a tough match.”
To advance, Gauff spoke about the importance of perfecting her serve on Wimbledon’s grass courts.
As a Grand Slam champion, she may enjoy considerable support from the crowd, a factor she cherishes. Reflecting on her experiences at the U.S. Open, she said:
“Coming from experience playing at home in the U.S., you always just play better and do better.”
Gauff also expressed gratitude towards the British crowd, saying, “Thankfully you guys are pretty nice to me, so that helped.”
For tennis fans, this all-American clash between Gauff and Navarro promises to be a highlight of the Wimbledon tournament.
