Emma Navarro didn’t wish to be on the losing side of an in depth three-set match at her first Olympic Games. With a 6:7 (7), 7:6 (4), 6:1 defeat to China's Qinwen Zheng within the third round on Tuesday, Navarro's singles tournament in Paris 2024 was over for her.
Instead of just giving the same old handshake after each match between opponents, Navarro went a step further. The 23-year-old American grabbed Zheng's hand and looked her within the eyes. Navarro spoke to Zheng at the web in a tense exchange, with Navarro shaking his head in frustration because the players walked as much as the umpire to thank him.
Navarro didn't mince his words when later asked concerning the conversation.
“I just told her I don't respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said after the match. “I think she's pretty ruthless about things. That means there's not a lot of camaraderie in the dressing room and it's tough to play against an opponent like her who I really don't respect. But kudos to her, she played good tennis in the end. She played better than me, so congratulations to her.”
Navarro didn’t elaborate on why she made these comments and what makes Zheng so “unscrupulous” within the American's eyes. Zheng admitted that Navarro told her: “She doesn't know how I have so many fans.”
“It looks like she is not happy with my behavior toward her,” Zheng said.
But Zheng didn’t respond with criticism. Instead, she said she didn’t consider Navarro's words an “attack” since the American had lost the match.
“If she is not happy with my behavior, she can come to me and tell me,” Zheng said. “I want to correct it to become a better player and a better person.”
(Photo by Qinwen Zheng: Tnani Badreddine / DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Tuesday's clash was the second match between Navarro and Zheng. In mild weather on a packed Court Seven at Roland Garros, Navarro got here back from 3-5 down in the primary set to force a tiebreak. Zheng took a 6-3 lead within the tiebreak, but Navarro recovered, warding off 4 set points and winning 9-7.
In the second set, Navarro, who was leading 5-3 and serving for the match, had a match point. The likelihood to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals was inside Navarro's reach. But Navarro made an unforced forehand error. Zheng took advantage of this and managed a break to remain alive. In the following game, Zheng held serve and suddenly the second set was tied at 5-5.
Zheng remained calm within the second set tiebreak. At 2-2, Zheng won three points in a row to take control of the tiebreak. At set point at 6-4, Zheng hit a forehand winner to force a 3rd and deciding set.
At this point, the Chinese fans in attendance roared their support for Zheng. In the third set, Zheng managed 13 service wins, a 79 percent first serve rate and won all her net points (4 to 4). Zheng broke Navarro 3 times. The American never had a likelihood to attain a break point.
GO DEEPER
Coco Gauff loses to Donna Vekic on the Olympics after linesman controversy
Zheng praised the support of the Chinese audience, which led her to victory.
“It's so special because I'm not fighting for myself,” Zheng said. “I'm fighting for China. So many people in the audience cheered me on. … I feel very uplifted.”
It has been a yr of profession success for Zheng and Navarro. Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final on the Australian Open in January and reached a brand new profession high of No. 7 on the planet rankings. Navarro, who became the 2021 NCAA singles champion with Virginia, won her first WTA tournament on the Hobart International and reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
After greater than three hours and a rating of 5:1 in the ultimate set, Zheng had her fourth match point likelihood. Navarro's backhand missed and Zheng won.
Zheng threw her arms up, let loose a scream and clenched her left fist. Navarro admitted that she felt emotions off the court too, the stress of not having the ability to finish off match point and playing for over three hours.
She now has to attend 4 years for her next possible Olympic moment.
Zheng's dream of an Olympic medal continues. She will play against three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber, who’s playing in her last skilled tournament.
Required reading
image credit : www.nytimes.com