Emma Navarro heads into the US Open with a fresh perspective after a difficult season that included health struggles and time away from the tour. The former semifinalist returns to Flushing Meadows after losing to Jessica Pegula in the third round of Cincinnati. Now 21-19 on the season, the 25-year-old American is back feeling healthy and ready to compete on home soil, starting with a mixed doubles match alongside Tommy Paul today.
Emma Navarro Reveals She Waited Until Healthy Enough to Enjoy Tennis Again Ahead of US Open
Navarro’s 2026 season has been a very challenging one. After struggling with her form and health, she stepped away from the tour in March to focus on her mental and physical well-being. She returned to the Italian Open in May.
At Wimbledon, sports anchor Chris McKendry had reported that she had also been dealing with hypothyroidism for more than a year and a half. Despite those struggles, Navarro found her form, winning the WTA 500 title in Strasbourg and reaching the Nottingham final.
Ahead of her return to New York, she reflected on her journey in an Instagram promotional clip posted by FP Movement, where she is a brand ambassador:
“I told myself I wasn’t going to go back to the tour until I was healthy enough to enjoy the challenge. I think this year has presented me with a lot of opportunities to prove to myself how resilient I can be. Because I feel better doing what I’m doing than I ever have. I guess I would say I’m the most comfortable with the discomfort. So now, I’m just getting started,” Navarro said.
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In the second edition of the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, Navarro and Paul received the wild cards for the main draw and will team up as an all-American pair.
Navarro’s best Grand Slam result came at the 2024 US Open, where she reached the singles semifinals, and she also made the women’s doubles quarterfinals at Roland Garros that year with Diana Shnaider.
Paul reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2023 and has also made Grand Slam doubles quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2020. He also won a bronze medal in men’s doubles with Taylor Fritz at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Their Round of 16 match against fellow Americans and No. 3 seeds Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien is scheduled for today, following the clash between Karolina Muchova and Jakub Menšík and Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arévalo.
