"My dad just kind of got all of us into it" - Billionaire tennis player Emma Navarro gets candid on her origins in the sport
WTA
Although several athletes harbor financial motivation to succeed in their profession, that may not be the case for American tennis star Emma Navarro. The 24-year old has experienced a meteoric rise on the WTA circuit, and the potential prize money has little to do with it.
The World No.11 is the daughter of Ben Navarro, a billionaire who founded Sherman Financial Group. Nonetheless, her affluent background has little to do with her success, as she has reached at least the fourth round of every Grand Slam tournament in addition to breaking into the top 10.
Raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Navarro played collegiate tennis at the University of Virginia. The tennis phenom won the NCAA singles championships in 2021, and later became the first women's singles NCAA champion to reach the US Open semifinals, when she did so in 2024.
Navarro has become a staple among the top players on tour, winning two WTA singles titles in her short career. After reaching a career-high ranking of World No.8 last year, Navarro was named Most Improved Player of the Year by the WTA in 2024.
Read also
Tennis has always been a part of her family life, says Navarro
Born in New York City, Navarro returns to her roots to compete at the US Open. The 10th seed defeated compatriot Caty McNally in the second round on Wednesday, and will face two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova for a spot in the round of 16.
Prior to the start of the US Open, Navarro spoke about first picking up a racket on a Southern Saturday morning with her dad and two older brothers. She has been in love with the sport ever since, but opted to go to college to figure out what she wanted from life.
"My dad just kind of got all of us into it," said Navarro. "I think he realized how important the lessons you learn through sports are. It took me going to college to realize that a more traditional path is probably not for me."
Although Navarro has ties to New York, she admits to identifying more with South Carolina as Charleston is where she was raised.
"At this point, I kind of see myself as as fully Charleston," admitted the World No.11. "I don't spend a ton of time in New York. We spent Christmases there for the first probably 20 years of my life, and we try to get up there a couple times a year at least, but now I'm traveling so much that it's hard to make time to go anywhere for fun anymore. So yeah, Charleston is definitely home."
Read also
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.
mandoist31-10-2026 - Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.
mandoist29-10-2026 - With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?
mandoist29-10-2026









