Emma Navarro refused to be on the losing side of a thrilling three-set match at her first Olympics. A 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1 loss to China’s Qinwen Zheng in the third round on Tuesday meant that Navarro’s singles tournament at Paris 2024 was over.
Instead of the customary handshake after every match between opponents, Navarro took it a step further. The 23-year-old American grabbed Zheng’s hand and looked her straight in the eye. Navarro confronted Zheng in a tense exchange at the net, with Navarro shaking her head in frustration as the players walked to thank the chair umpire.
When Navarro was later asked about the conversation, he didn’t mince his words.
“I just told her I don’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said after the match. “I think she’s pretty ruthless. It creates a locker room where there’s not a lot of camaraderie, so it’s hard to go up against an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect. But, kudos to her, she played some good tennis there at the end. She played better than me, so congratulations.”
Navarro did not elaborate on why she made the comments and what makes Zheng “ruthless” according to the Americans. Zheng admitted that Navarro told her that “she doesn’t know how I have a lot of fans.”
“It seems she is not happy with my behavior towards her,” Zheng said.
But Zheng did not respond with criticism. Instead, Zheng said she did not consider Navarro’s words “an attack” because the American had lost the match.
“If she is not happy with my behavior, she can come 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 meeting was the second match between Navarro and Zheng. Playing in sultry conditions on a packed court seven at Roland Garros, Navarro roared back in the first set from a 3-5 deficit to force a tiebreaker. Zheng took a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker, but Navarro rallied again, saving four set points en route to a 9-7 victory.
In the second set, Navarro, who was leading 5-3 and serving for the match, had a match point. A chance to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games was within Navarro’s grasp. But Navarro made a forehand error without force. Zheng took advantage of this and broke to stay alive. In the next game, Zheng held his serve and suddenly the second set was tied at 5-5.
Zheng never lost his nerve in the second set tiebreaker. At 2-2, Zheng scored three points in a row and took the tiebreaker. At set point 6-4, Zheng hit a forehand winner, forcing a third and deciding set.
At this point, the Chinese fans in attendance roared in support of Zheng. In the third set, Zheng hit 13 service winners, posted a first serve rate of 79 percent and won all her net points (4 for 4). Zheng broke Navarro three times. The American never had a break point opportunity.
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Zheng praised the support of the Chinese public, which had led her to victory.
“It’s so special because I’m not fighting for myself,” Zheng said. “I’m fighting for China. There were so many people (in the) audience cheering me on. … I feel very excited.”
It was a year of career achievements for both Zheng and Navarro. Zheng reached her first slam final in January at the Australian Open and a new career high of No. 7 in the world rankings. Navarro, the 2021 NCAA singles champion with Virginia, won her first WTA tournament at the Hobart International and reached her first slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
After more than three hours, with a 5-1 lead in the final set, Zheng got her fourth match point chance. Navarro’s backhand sailed wide, allowing Zheng to clinch the win.
Zheng raised her arms high, screamed and clenched her left fist. Navarro admitted there were emotions coming off the court, the toll of not being able to close on match point and playing for more than three hours.
She will now have to wait four years for her next potential Olympic moment.
Zheng’s Olympic dream of winning a medal continues. She will play against three-time slam winner Angelique Kerber, who is playing her last professional tournament.
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(Photo: Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
