Emma Navarro puts health before tennis after three difficult years: “There is no weight on the scale…”
WTA
Emma Navarro has opened up about a three-year health struggle that has affected her life away from tennis, revealing that she has been dealing with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.
The American, who reached a career-high No. 8 in the WTA rankings, explained that the condition left her struggling with her energy and forced her to reassess the way she was approaching both tennis and her life away from the sport.
Now, Navarro has decided to take the rest of 2026 away from competition as she works on her treatment and nutrition protocols. She will not compete during the Asian swing and instead plans to return to the WTA Tour at the start of the 2027 season in Australia.
Her announcement also addressed a subject that can be particularly complicated for professional athletes: weight. Navarro acknowledged that she has gained weight this year, but said the change has helped her recover something she had been missing for years.
“I gained some weight this year. But I also gained my life back”
Navarro explained that the changes she has made have given her enough energy not only to train and compete, but also to enjoy the parts of life that exist outside professional tennis.
“So yeah. I gained some weight this year. But I also gained my life back," she wrote on her Instagram account. "I have enough energy to seize every day, to train or compete as hard as I want to, and to live a life outside of tennis.”
She then described the difference in much more personal terms, pointing to the everyday experiences that had become difficult during the period in which she was struggling with her health.
“To laugh, to be curious, to be spontaneous, to spend time with the people I care about, to feel joy, hope and positivity, and to appreciate the incredible gift of life.”
The 25-year-old is currently ranked No. 24, well below the position she occupied when she broke into the Top 10. Navarro reached No. 8 in the world in 2025, but her ranking has since dropped as she dealt with the problems she has now discussed publicly.
Her 2026 season has nevertheless included some important signs that her tennis remained at a high level. Navarro won the WTA 500 Strasbourg Open, defeating Victoria Mboko in the final, and later reached the final in Nottingham before losing to Marie Bouzkova.
The strongest evidence came at the US Open. Navarro reached the quarterfinals in New York, defeating Karolina Muchova and Anna Kalinskaya before Jessica Pegula ended her run in the last eight.
Those results made her decision to step away from the remainder of the season less about a lack of form and more about giving herself time to properly address the problems she has been dealing with.
“I have learned that there is no weight on the scale or leanness in your limbs that is more valuable than your health or your well-being.”
Navarro chooses health over the final months of 2026
Navarro's decision means she will miss the Asian swing despite having rebuilt some momentum during the second half of the season. She will instead spend the remainder of the year working on her medication and fueling protocols before targeting a return in Australia.
“All that being said, I am taking the rest of this year to work on dialing in my medication and fueling protocols so that I can hopefully feel back to 100% again.”
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The American has already set a target for her return, making clear that she does not view the decision as an end to her career. “I will not be competing in Asia this year, but I plan to be back on the road starting in Australia 2027.”
Navarro's announcement therefore marks a significant pause. She has spent the last three years trying to manage a problem that affected more than just her performances, and her latest update suggests that she is now approaching her health differently.
Her 2026 results show that she can still produce her best tennis while dealing with those challenges. But Navarro's message is that success on the court means little if it comes at the expense of everything around it.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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