Navarro beats Badosa to reach US Open semifinals

Emma Navarro celebrates her US Open quarterfinal victory over Paula Badosa. (Reuters photo)

NEW YORK: Emma Navarro continued her breakthrough season as the American reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Spain’s Paula Badosa on Tuesday at the US Open.

In a battle of New York-born baseliners, Navarro, who had defeated reigning champion Coco Gauff in the previous round, surprised Badosa by winning the last six games of the second set to secure victory in 72 minutes.

Navarro took advantage of an early break to take a 3-0 lead, using her superb forehand and converting the two break points she faced to convincingly secure the first set.

Badosa, born in New York but carrying the Spanish flag, took a 4-1 doublebreak lead in the second set and looked set to force a deciding set after a routine hold to take a 5-1 lead, but she suffered a shocking collapse.

The 26th-seeded player failed to serve out the set twice, while Navarro twice managed to take a break lead before deciding the match with her fifth break.

Navarro has reached a new level in 2024, having never advanced beyond the second round of a Grand Slam until this year.

The American has reached the third round or higher at all four Grand Slams, including a fourth round at Roland Garros and a quarterfinal at Wimbledon.

Navarro’s next opponent will be either two-time reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, who is seeded second, or Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who is seeded seventh.