STUMP STORY OF THE DAY
Competitors Today. Teammates Tomorrow. Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro.
(2) Coco Gauff faced off against (19) Emma Navarro in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon! The two Americans will be teammates at the Paris Olympics
No matter the sport, no matter the level, when you’re face to face with your opponent, that’s all they are. An opponent. Yesterday we had a matchup of two women who will be Olympic teammates in just a few weeks.
Yesterday we had a matchup between two American powerhouses at Wimbledon. World No. 2 Coco Gauff and No. 19 Emma Navarro. They faced off in the round of 16 in what either way would end up in a ‘first’. Despite being ranked the second-best player in the world, Wimbledon is the one tournament that has eluded Coco Gauff. In her very young career, this is the only tournament in which she has not made it past the round of 16.
Navarro similarly was also looking for her first quarterfinal berth at the tournament.
Only one day after world No. 1 Iga Switek was STUMPSET by unranked Yulia Putintseva, there seemed to be upset magic in the air. Despite this, Gauff (who is still only 20 YEARS YOUNG by the way) stepped onto the court with the utmost confidence that she would be able to advance to her first Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Coming into this matchup Gauff hadn’t given up a single set and Navarro only one, so something had to give.
Even though she was facing off against a 20-year-old, you would think Navarro (who is only 23) would walk in with some nerves facing off against the world No. 2. It was the exact opposite. Without rankings posted on the screen, you would have thought that it was Navarro who was the second-best player in the world.
She remained calm, cool, and collected throughout the entire match and with just a few breaks of Gauff she was able to win in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
Although a disappointing loss for Coco, something tells me a player of her caliber will have many deep runs on the grass courts. Navarro on the other hand advances to her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal where she will face No. 7 Paolini. If she is able to win that matchup she is guaranteed to face off against an unranked player in the semis. Maybe this is the breakthrough tournament for her!
Yesterday these two were adversaries. But in just three weeks they will be teammates. The two will consist of half of the USA Women’s team that suits up for the Paris Olympics. I wasn’t planning on tuning into Tennis during the Olympics but that has quickly changed. The heart that both showed in their match was easily seen on their sleeve.
Team USA is in great hands in Paris!
Navarro’s semifinal matchup will take place Tomorrow at a time that is still TBD.
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