What Emma Navarro, Steffi Graf, Emma Raducanu & Bianca Andreescu have in common: American sets unique record after reaching US Open 2024 SF
Emma Navarro booked her spot in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, downing Paula Badosa in straight sets in the quarterfinals. The American was trailing 5-1 in the second set before rattling off six games in a row to seal the clash 6-2, 7-5 and reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal.
Coming into the tournament, Emma Navarro had never won a match at Flushing Meadows, losing in the first round in 2021 (loss to Christina McHale) and 2023 (loss to Magdalena Frech). In her maiden appearance at the New York Slam in 2019, the American went out in the first round of qualifiers.
By reaching the semifinals, the World No. 12 has become the sixth woman in the last 40 years to reach a semifinal at the US Open without a win beforehand in New York.
The last to do so was Emma Raducanu in 2021, when she won her maiden Grand Slam coming all the way from qualifiers in her first appearance at the US Open. Bianca Andreescu managed to do it two years before Raducanu on her way to the title at the 2019 US Open, her first appearance in the main draw of the New York Major after going out in the qualifiers the previous two years.
Before that, Yanina Wickmayer had achieved the same at the 2009 US open, her second appearance at Flushing Meadows. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, playing in her first full year on the WTA Tour in 1997, is also the proud owner of the accomplishment, finishing as the runner-up in on her debut in front of her home fans in America.
Finally, there’s Steffi Graf, who reached the semifinals of the 1985 US Open after going out in the first round on her New York debut the previous year. Graf lost to Navratilova in 1985, finished as a semifinalist the following year, then the runner-up in 1987 before finally winning her first title at Flushing Meadows in 1988. The German legend went on to rack up three more titles at the tournament before hanging up her racket.
Following her win over Paula Badosa, Emma Navarro will take on Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.
The defending Australian Open champ Sabalenka and the defending Olympics champ will take on each other in the quarter-finals later today.Emma Navarro trails 2-0 in her head-to-head against Zheng, having lost most recently at the Paris Olympics last month, while she’s 1-1 with Aryna Sabalenka in her head-to-head.
