Unseeded American qualifier Emma Navarro stunned former world number one Naomi Osaka in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday, winning in straight sets to advance. Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion, was expected to cruise through the early rounds but was outplayed by the 19-year-old Navarro.
Emma Navarro, an unseeded American qualifier, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday, defeating former world number one Naomi Osaka in straight sets to advance to the second round.
Emma Navarro Causes Upset, Defeats Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon
The 19-year-old Navarro, ranked 138th in the world, played aggressively from the start, hitting powerful groundstrokes and dictating the pace of the match. Osaka, who has won four Grand Slam titles, struggled to find her rhythm and was unable to match Navarro's intensity.
Navarro won the first set 6-3, breaking Osaka's serve twice. Osaka broke Navarro's serve to start the second set, but Navarro responded by winning the next three games to take a 3-1 lead. Osaka broke back to level the set at 3-3, but Navarro once again won three consecutive games to take the second set 6-3.
The third set was a closer affair, with both players holding serve until the ninth game. Navarro broke Osaka's serve and held her own to win the set 6-4 and complete the upset.
"It's an incredible feeling," said Navarro after the match. "I've dreamed of playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon and to come out here and win my first match is amazing. I just tried to stay aggressive and play my game. I knew I had to bring my best tennis to beat someone like Naomi."
Osaka praised Navarro's performance, saying that she played "really well."
"She was hitting the ball really hard and she didn't give me too many chances," said Osaka. "I tried to fight my way back, but she was just too good today. Credit to her for playing so well."
Navarro's victory is a reminder that anything is possible in tennis. The unseeded American qualifier has now beaten a former world number one and will be looking to continue her run at Wimbledon. She will face another former Grand Slam champion, Angelique Kerber, in the second round.
Osaka, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing defeat. The Japanese player has struggled for form in recent months and will need to find her best tennis if she wants to challenge for a third Wimbledon title.
