(VIDEO) "I need you to step up your game": Emma Navarro sends hilarious message to Jannik Sinner ahead of US Open mixed doubles

World No. 11 Emma Navarro sent a congratulatory message to Jannik Sinner on social media after the Italian secured the Wimbledon title. The American, set to be Sinner's mixed doubles partner at the US Open, jokingly expressed her hope that Sinner can improve his net play for the tournament and "match her level."

Just a couple of weeks ago, the US Open mixed doubles pairings were announced, with Navarro and Sinner forming a surprising partnership. Both players will team up in the innovative mixed doubles format of the upcoming Grand Slam, which will feature virtually the entire men's and women's top 10.

Other teams that caught attention include Jack Draper with Zheng Qinwen, Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz with Emma Raducanu, among others. All will compete the week prior to the singles draw for a million-dollar prize for the winning team.

Navarro will arrive with high ambitions for the tournament, especially considering she'll be partnering with the best male player of the moment, winner of three of the last four Slams and World No. 1 with a significant lead over his pursuer, Carlos Alcaraz.

The 24-year-old American had a congratulatory message for her upcoming doubles partner, and she playfully joked in a funny video about aspects Sinner needs to improve to get to her level. “Just want to say huge congrats on the Wimbledon title, I watched a lot of your matches. I watched the final, and you look like, you’re playing a lot of good tennis,” Navarro said.

“But, you know, I’m just getting a little bit worried because I didn’t see, you know, that much net play. You did hit a tweener between your legs at the net at one point, which was, you know, kind of cool or whatever, but you missed the overhead.”

“I don’t even know if that really counts. I’m gonna need you to, just put in a good bit of work at the net on the doubles court in the next month or so. And hopefully you can kind of improve that part of your game, because I’m out here working hard doubles pretty much everyday, so, I need you to step up your game a little bit and sort of match my level there.”

The mixed doubles will have a total main draw of 16 teams and will be played during the US Open Fan Week between Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, providing a high-level spectacle for fans before the start of the singles draws.