Emma Navarro accomplishes feat set by Steffi Graf, Emma Raducanu following US Open semifinal run

WTA
Thursday, 05 September 2024 at 04:30
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Rising American star Emma Navarro continues to rack up the accolades during her breakout season, as she joins a unique list of players to have reached the semifinal stage of the US Open.

The 23-year old toppled defending champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round of Flushing Meadows, before defeating Paula Badosa to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. By virtue of this victory, Navarro joins the likes of Steffi Graf and Emma Raducanu as one of the only players to have reached the final four of the US Open without having won a match at the event in previous editions.

Navarro joins list alongside previous US Open champions

The 13th seed has made two appearances in New York prior to the 2024 tournament. Navarro lost in the first round to Christina McHale in 2021, and then was beaten by Magdalena Frech in last year's first round encounter. However, the American has made the most of her breakout season, and is now one of only six women to have accomplished this stunning feat in the past 40 years. The other members of this exclusive group are listed below.

Emma Raducanu - 2021
The British star came through qualifying to reach her first main draw at Flushing Meadows, before powering through the event and winning her first Grand Slam title without dropping a set.

Bianca Andreescu - 2019
The Canadian had never played a US Open main draw match before competing at the 2019 edition, and subsequently went on to win the title.

Yanina Wickmayer - 2009
The Belgian star was unseeded heading into the 2009 US Open, and had lost in round one to Katerina Srebotnik in her tournament debut the previous year. However, she beat the likes of Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova en route to the semifinals, where she fell to Caroline Wozniacki.

Venus Williams - 1997
The WTA icon's breakout run occurred at her home slam in New York, where she overcame the odds to reach her first of 16 singles Grand Slam finals.

Steffi Graf - 1985
The German had been beaten by compatriot Sylvia Hanika on her main draw debut in 1984, but shattered expectations when she reached the US Open semifinals the following year, at just 16 years of age.

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