Emma Navarro Rallies to Advance to Third Round at Australian Open
For the first time in her young career, Emma Navarro has advanced to the third round at a Grand Slam. The former Virginia tennis star and 2021 NCAA Singles Champion is making her main-draw debut at the Australian Open this week as the No. 27 seed. Navarro defeated China's Xiyu Wang 6-1, 6-7, 7-5 in the first round and then faced Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round. After dropping the first set, Navarro rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to third round, where she will face the Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska on Friday.
Navarro is having a brilliant 2024 season so far, posting a 10-1 record and winning her first-ever WTA title at the Hobart International last week. Now, she'll look to build on what is already her deepest run at a Grand Slam.
Another former Cavalier and two-time NCAA Singles Champ Danielle Collins nearly pulled off a remarkable upset in the second round of the Australian Open. After dispatching Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the first round, Collins took on No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek in the second round. Swiatek took the first set, but Collins then seized momentum in the second set and built a 4-1 advantage in the deciding third set, pushing the world No. 1 to the brink. But Swiatek had a stunning comeback left in the tank, winning the next five games to escape with a thrilling 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Collins.
In the wake of the heartbreaking loss, Danielle Collins announced in a post-match interview that this will be the final season on the professional tennis tour.
“This is going to be my last season, actually, competing,” Collins said. “I don’t really know exactly when, but this will be my last season and I’m really looking forward to that.”
Two years ago, Collins had her best Grand Slam finish at the Australian Open, knocking off Swiatek in the semifinals before falling to Australia's own Ashleigh Barty in the final. That was the closest Collins came to claiming a Grand Slam title, having advanced as far as the Round of 16 at the US Open (2022) and the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros (2020). Collins hasn't made it past the fourth round at a major since reaching the 2022 Australian Open final and is now preparing for a relatively early retirement at 30 years of age.
"I feel like I've had a pretty good career. There has certainly been ups and downs to it," Collins said. "I have other things that I'd kind of like to accomplish in my life outside of tennis and would like to be able to do that. Obviously, having kids is a big priority for me."
Her final match at the Australian Open was one to remember, as Danielle Collins gave world No. 1 Iga Swiatek all she could handle in a three hour and 14 minute match at Rod Laver Arena.
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