Emma Navarro, now ranked 13th globally after a semi-final appearance in Toronto, has praised the rising talent in American tennis, highlighting a player she believes has immense potential. Navarro, who has been steadily refining her game this year, has seen her ranking climb after making it to the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Now, as she edges closer to breaking into the WTA top 10, her assessment of American tennis seems spot on, with five U.S. women, including Coco Gauff, who is currently world number two, ranking in the top 15.
The 23-year-old Navarro recently reached her first WTA 1000 semi-final but was ultimately defeated by Amanda Anisimova, who returned to the court after a hiatus in mid-2023. Anisimova, once seen as the next big thing in American tennis, is back with a vengeance, quickly climbing the rankings and displaying the same energy that marked her early career.
In a tightly contested match, Navarro pushed Anisimova to three sets but couldn’t secure her place in the final. After the match, Navarro acknowledged Anisimova’s skill, saying, “She has immense potential—she’s a powerful server and hard hitter. When she’s on target, she’s tough to beat. Her ability to take any shot and hit it into either corner is a huge advantage.”
Navarro and Anisimova last faced off in the 2022 Indian Wells, where Anisimova dominated with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Reflecting on her progress since then, Navarro noted, “I’ve definitely improved this week, playing some great tennis. Today was tough, but I’m happy with how I performed and excited to keep competing on the hard courts.”
As Anisimova prepares to face Jessica Pegula in the Toronto final, the match-up promises to be thrilling. While Pegula aims to defend her title, Anisimova, who began the tournament ranked 136th, looks to upset the narrative. Both players have powerful, baseline-focused games, but if Anisimova finds her rhythm early, she could prove difficult to stop.
