Persistent Emma Navarro edges out Peyton Starns in three-set thriller

Tuesday, 14 January 2025 at 05:29

Emma Navarro survives a disaster after defeating Peyton Stearns 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 in the Australian Open first round. The world No. 8 was on the brink of defeat but managed to prevail against an opponent who knew how to complicate things for her.

The match was marked by mistakes from both players. Despite combining for 77 winners, they also totaled 118 unforced errors—a combined figure over 50% higher than their winners total.

Navarro seals comeback win

In the first set, both players held serve well and exchanged breaks in the fifth and sixth games, each converting their only chance. Stearns broke again in the eleventh game to lead 6-5 and had two set points on her serve but squandered both, allowing Navarro to push the set into a tiebreak.

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Stearns managed a key minibreak to win the tiebreak 7-6(5) in a set defined by mistakes—Navarro committing 19 unforced errors and Stearns 21. However, Stearns was more efficient, hitting 20 winners compared to Navarro’s 9.

The second set initially seemed to favour Stearns, who broke early and quickly established a 2-0 lead. However, Navarro responded with a break of her own, gaining momentum and confidence. The set remained tight, ultimately decided by another tiebreak where Navarro took advantage of inconsistent serving from both players to level the match.

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The third set turned into a rollercoaster, featuring break points in most games. Stearns held the lead for much of the set and reached a 5-3 advantage, seemingly on the brink of victory. However, Navarro raised her level in the crucial moments, winning 16 of the last 18 points and claiming four consecutive games to secure a remarkable 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 victory.

3 hours and 20 minutes later, the RLA humdinger goes to Emma Navarro as she wins 6-7 7-6 (5) 7-5 🤩🤩@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2025 • #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/1hUQGcdxJY
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025

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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