LONDON — Emma Navarro, seeded 10th, delivered a surprising victory over defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the third round on Saturday, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 Court. This upset extended the recent trend of early exits for reigning champions at the All England Club and marked another major breakthrough moment for Navarro at this Grand Slam event.

Physical Struggles Impact Krejcikova’s Performance

Krejcikova showed signs of distress in the final set, which included a medical timeout to check her blood pressure after Navarro broke to lead 3-2. During the break, Krejcikova consumed a banana and fluids in an attempt to recover, while Navarro consulted with her coach. When play resumed, Krejcikova often leaned on her knees between points, visibly shaken by the physical toll of the match.

Navarro Reflects on the Challenge of Facing a Champion

Part of you is telling yourself, ‘Just put a bunch of balls in the court, and that’s all you have to do.’ But then, she’s an amazing player, injuries or no injuries. So that’s not good enough,

said Navarro, who was born in New York, grew up in South Carolina, and won the 2021 NCAA championship for the University of Virginia.

And then you trick yourself into taking too much off the ball and not playing the way you want to play. Not an easy challenge, for sure.

Turning Points in the Match and Navarro’s Resilience

After losing the first set and falling behind in the second, Navarro began to serve better and apply more pressure on Krejcikova’s service games. Krejcikova broke back to level at 3-all in the third set, but Navarro quickly responded with another break and then held serve to lead 5-3. She maintained her composure to close out the match two games later, sealing a resounding upset.

Navarro’s History of Key Wins on the Big Stage

This is not Navarro’s debut victory over prominent players. Last year at Wimbledon, she defeated Coco Gauff to reach her first major quarterfinal. Later that year, Navarro again bested Gauff in a rematch at the U.S. Open, where she advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal. These accomplishments demonstrate Navarro’s capability to rise to the occasion against elite competition.

Unpredictable Trends in Recent Wimbledon Women’s Championships

Since Serena Williams’ last repeat title in 2016, Wimbledon women’s singles has seen a new champion every year. The winners include Garbiñe Muguruza (2017), Angelique Kerber (2018), Simona Halep (2019), Ash Barty (2021), Elena Rybakina (2022), Marketa Vondrousova (2023), and most recently, Barbora Krejcikova. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the pandemic. Both Rybakina and Vondrousova exited early this year, underscoring the volatility of this year’s event.

Statistics Highlight Navarro’s Consistency Amidst Krejcikova’s Errors

Despite Krejcikova amassing 34 winners—21 more than Navarro—she also made 53 unforced errors. In contrast, Navarro’s steadiness earned her a mere 11 unforced errors. Such consistency proved decisive in a match full of momentum swings. Krejcikova, seeded 17th, was aiming to defend her 2022 title, which marked her second Grand Slam victory following her 2021 French Open triumph. This loss is expected to push her ranking outside the top 70.

Remaining Contenders and Upcoming Matches

The women’s draw continues to surprise, with only four top-10 seeds remaining, including Navarro. Other top contenders still in the competition are No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who triumphed over Emma Raducanu on Friday, Mirra Andreeva, an 18-year-old Russian seeded seventh, and No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek, who defeated Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday. Navarro will face Andreeva on Monday with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

Navarro’s Playing Style and Mental Approach

I was able to serve a bit better and gained a little bit of traction on my return games, and from the ground, just played a little bit stronger,

said Navarro, 24.

I like to play scrappy, so I was able to play a few more scrappy points, get a few more balls back in the court.

Implications of Navarro’s Victory for Wimbledon and Beyond

Navarro’s upset not only continues the trend of unexpected results at Wimbledon but also highlights her growing reputation as a player who can challenge and defeat established champions. With the tournament nearing its climax on July 12, her progression illustrates the depth and unpredictability of the current women’s field. Observers will watch closely to see if Navarro can maintain her momentum against experienced opponents like Andreeva and potentially contend for the title in a year marked by no clear repeat champion.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Emma Navarro a billionaire?

A. Emma Navarro comes from a wealthy family; her parents are Ben and Kelly Navarro, both billionaires. Her grandfather, Frank Navarro, used to play and coach American football. She has Italian ancestry. Emma studied at Ashley Hall, an all-girls private school in Charleston. There, she was a member of the varsity tennis team.

Q. Is Emma Navarro rich?

A. Emma Navarro, a famous American tennis player from New York, has such a large fortune that tournament winnings feel minor. Emma is the daughter of Ben Navarro, a billionaire American investor, and she stands to inherit around £3 billion ($3.8 billion).