When Emma Navarro decided to give Jannik Sinner some coaching advice, she didn’t hold back. The American tennis star had just watched her US Open mixed doubles partner claim his first Wimbledon title, and she had some thoughts about his net game. What followed was a playful but pointed message that has the tennis world buzzing about their upcoming partnership.
What Did Emma Navarro Tell Jannik Sinner About His Net Play?
The US Open recently shared a tweet featuring Navarro with the caption: “Time to get to work, Emma Navarro and @janniksin have entered the US Open Mixed Doubles Championships and Emma wants to ensure Jannik is at the top of his game.”
Navarro delivered a humorous yet pointed message to her partner in the video.
“Hey Jannik, it’s Emma here. 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.”
However, she quickly identified areas for improvement, stating: “But I’m just getting a little bit worried because I didn’t see that much net play. You did hit a tweener between your legs at the net at one point, which was kind of cool or whatever, but you missed the overhead. I don’t even know if that really counts.”
The 24-year-old American didn’t stop there, giving Sinner clear instructions for their upcoming partnership.
“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 at doubles pretty much every day. So I need you to step up your game a little bit and sort of match my level there. Let’s get to work, buddy,” she concluded.
Time to get to work 😤
Emma Navarro and @janniksin have entered the US Open Mixed Doubles Championships and Emma wants to ensure Jannik is at the top of his game 😅 pic.twitter.com/iW4mkm2fyB
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 17, 2025
This playful exchange comes after Sinner’s historic victory at Wimbledon 2025, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to claim his first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam overall. The victory made Sinner the first Italian man to win Wimbledon in the tournament’s 148-year history.
How Did This Unlikely Partnership Come Together?
The partnership between Navarro and Sinner came about unexpectedly. As Sinner revealed during his pre-Wimbledon press conference, the two had never met or even exchanged messages before being paired together by tournament organizers.
“I just met her yesterday for the first time,” Sinner explained. “We never talked or texted to each other. It’s actually a funny story.”
Despite their lack of prior connection, both players bring impressive credentials to the partnership. The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship has undergone a significant transformation for 2025, moving to a standalone event during Fan Week on August 19-20. The competition will occur in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, with the winning team receiving a $1 million prize, a significant increase from the $200,000 awarded in 2024.
Navarro, currently ranked No. 11 worldwide and a 2024 US Open semifinalist, brings considerable doubles experience to the partnership. She has reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 93. She has previously shown her doubles prowess in college tennis, reaching the NCAA doubles semifinals partnering with Rosie Johanson. Her playful confidence in addressing Sinner’s net play reflects her understanding of the doubles format, where strong volleying and net coverage are crucial skills.
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Meanwhile, the 16-team field features eight pairs based on combined singles rankings and eight wild cards. Matches are in a unique format featuring short sets to four games and no-ad scoring.
When they take the court together next month, Navarro and Sinner will be looking to add a mixed doubles Grand Slam title to their already impressive singles achievements.
