THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2024

Emma Navarro

Press Conference

E. NAVARRO/C. Gauff

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Emma, through to the quarterfinals. How are you feeling?

EMMA NAVARRO: Yeah, feeling really good. Played some good tennis today, for sure. Faced a really tough opponent, a Grand Slam champ. Second one in one tournament. I mean, that's more than I've ever faced.

But yeah, definitely good tennis. I'm excited to keep playing.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How would you describe how you did it?

EMMA NAVARRO: I don't know. I've kind of been just way more comfortable playing on that stage than I would have thought I would have felt.

I don't know, maybe just like the accumulation of a lot more experiences on stages like that and in stadiums like that have allowed me to be more comfortable playing in that type of environment.

Yeah, kind of just rode the wave of that comfort, I guess. Yeah, let the practice that I've put in and the hours of work that I've put in just, yeah, take control I guess.

Q. How did you make yourself believe that you were capable of doing this, not just tonight, but also basically this whole week? Is it just a matter of looking at a tennis court and thinking this is just another tennis court or something else?

EMMA NAVARRO: Something my coach talks about is looking at matches as if they're a dual match like in college. In college the format is you play a single match in a week. It's just you versus your opponent on that given day. There's no rounds. You can't work your way into a tournament, build confidence or whatever. You just are playing one specific opponent on one specific day.

I think that mindset has definitely helped me just not to look at a day like today as any different than any other match. I think, yeah, just being able to look at individual matches for what they are and not make them anything greater than that.

I think also I'm believing that this is possible as it's happening. I'm starting to think, Why not me? Why not? Why can't I make a quarterfinal run? Why can't I go deep in Grand Slams?

Yeah, I think I'm coming into that belief as we speak.

Q. We could see Coco talking to her box. She was clearly frustrated. I assume you see that. What goes through your mind when you know you're frustrating your opponent?

EMMA NAVARRO: Yeah, it's definitely a little bit of a confidence boost, just knowing that your game plan is doing what you wanted it to do.

I don't normally give the other side of the court too much energy. I keep it on my side of the court. Yeah, I guess seeing her kind of frustrated and looking at her box, putting her arms up in the air, it's definitely a little bit of a confidence boost.

Yeah, I guess it maybe gave me a little bit of momentum and just some energy that I needed.

Q. What do you think you executed well today tactically to win the match?

EMMA NAVARRO: I really wanted to attack her forehand. I think she wanted to do the same to me. We found ourselves in a lot of forehand cross-court rallies. It was kind of a cat and mouse, who's going to change the pattern first.

I love matches like that where it feels like it's not just a hitting or striking competition, there's strategy involved. It feels like a chess match or something. That was really enjoyable for me.

Then, yeah, I wanted to attack her serve, make her feel like if she's hitting a second serve, I don't want her to be comfortable on her second serve, consequentially not comfortable on her first serve.

Same on my serve, attacking her forehand, making her hit a ton of forehand returns. Yeah, during rallies staying close enough up to the baseline where I'm not giving her too much time.

Q. You now face Jasmine. How do you readjust your focus?

EMMA NAVARRO: As I said before, looking at it like another dual match. It will be me versus her. Obviously it will be in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. It's going to be my tennis versus hers. Hopefully it will speak for itself.

Yeah, she's been on this stage before not too long ago. I don't know if that will work to her advantage. I'll be ready to play. I'll be really excited to play.

Q. What do you do on your off days? Tomorrow will be an off day. Do you go out and about? People recognize you?

EMMA NAVARRO: Yeah, I haven't had too much time. Tomorrow will be my first proper off day. Going to prioritize practicing, recovering, getting my body ready.

I don't know after that. But, yeah, we're staying in Wimbledon Village. There's some guys that were working on the roof the other day. They shouted out at me, Good luck today. So that was pretty cool (smiling).

Q. How much have you been hearing from your UVA teammates?

EMMA NAVARRO: Yeah, a bunch. Sara O'Leary, the head coach, and the assistant coach P.G., they'll both text me after most of my matches this week, but all the time. Then my teammates as well, too. Yeah, it's really cool to have their support.

Q. Will you go to Danielle's match?

EMMA NAVARRO: I would love to go to Danielle's match. I haven't looked at the schedule. I'm not sure what time it is. Yeah, if it works out, I would love to go.

Q. The Cavaliers are having a pretty decent tournament. What is in the water in Charlottesville, the secret sauce?

EMMA NAVARRO: I don't know if there's a secret sauce. I watched Danielle's match yesterday. She came back after being down 0-4. I passed by her by her in the rain delay and she was scarfing down rice and sweet potatoes trying to carb up. Then I kind of followed suit today, I was carbing up before my match. Then I texted her yesterday, and she texted me after I played today.

Yeah, it's pretty cool to have somebody else out on tour that you have that connection with, feel like you're in each other's corner, no matter what.

Q. Talk about the relationship. Is she like an older sister or role model?

EMMA NAVARRO: She's definitely a role model of mine. We are probably polar opposites on the court in terms of how we express ourselves.

But what I think is so cool about Danielle is how she doesn't care what anybody thinks of her, and she's going to be herself no matter what. Maybe that gets her some negative feedback, but she doesn't care. She'll do it. She's going to express herself how she wants to. I think that attitude and that mindset is really cool.

Q. What has been the challenge to stay as even-keeled as you've seemed to be through this run?

EMMA NAVARRO: Hmm... I don't know. I guess just being even-keeled, it comes really naturally to me. It's not something that I really have to work on.

Definitely this summer I've dealt with more emotions and I guess nerves than I have in the past just playing on bigger stages and higher stakes, I guess. Trying to breathe. My physio always makes me breathe. So, yeah, I think breathing is a big thing.