Emma Navarro is hoping for history to repeat itself at Wimbledon.
The US star will face Mirra Andreeva on Centre Court on Monday (July 7) as she looks to book a spot in the quarterfinals of this year’s tournament — 365 days after she did exactly that back in 2024.
One year ago, Navarro faced Coco Gauff in an all-American Round of 16 shootout.
Gauff was favored for the win, and perhaps to go on and lift the title at the All England Club, but it was instead the No. 19 seed who impressed under the Centre Court lights.
Navarro secured a 6-4, 6-3 win that left spectators, and her opponent, stunned.
The South Carolina native, who is the daughter of a billionaire financier, wrapped up an unlikely victory in just one hour and 14 minutes to deny the then-reigning US Open champion her first trip to the last eight of Wimbledon.
Navarro carries the nickname ‘Ice Girl’ amongst friends and family, a reference to the way she deals with the pressure on court.
And that was on full display as she battled to victory against Gauff, remaining cool and calm throughout.
The same, though, couldn’t be said for her opponent.
As the second set slipped away, Gauff became tentative and hesitant. She made errors off her forehand on shots that are usually easy for her, and threw in a double fault that signaled the beginning of the end.
Shortly after, she began openly feuding with her coach, Brad Gilbert.
In front of the Centre Court crowd, Gauff was seen shaking her arms in exasperation as she sat on her chair during a changeover, pleading with her coach.
An animated Gauff clashed with her coach against Navarro last yearAFP Gauff was frustrated with her box as Navarro closed out a shock winAFP“Tell me something,” she said to him from across the court, before repeating it as she walked back to serve.
Gauff won that game and then turned to Gilbert for more pointers, but was seen walking away in frustration once again as she appeared lost on the court.
With the communication between player and coach breaking down, Navarro took full advantage and closed out the match to send her compatriot packing.
In the press conference that followed, Gauff admitted she was out-played, but questioned the input from her team in the box, and suggested both Gilbert and fellow coach Jean-Christophe Faurel could have given her more.
“We had a game plan going in,” she told reporters.
“I felt that it wasn’t working. I don’t always ask for advice on the box. Today was one of those rare moments where I felt I didn’t have solutions.
Gauff later admitted her game plan had failed against NavarroAFP Navarro advanced with a straight sets win in front of a Centre Court crowdGetty Gauff went on to struggle at the US Open and split with her coach soon afterGetty“I don’t want to say I didn’t have any because I think I’m a capable player of coming up with some. I think today mentally there was a lot going on. I felt like I wanted more direction from the box.
“It’s happened before. I wouldn’t say it’s happened before with the combination of JC and Brad, but it’s happened before in the past where I felt like I needed more direction. They usually give me something.
“I felt today I don’t think we were all in sync. It’s no one’s blame except myself. I mean, I’m the player out there. I have to make decisions for myself on the court.”
Gauff also appeared to call out fans during her press conference, suggesting that some put too much pressure on being seeded.
“I’ve seen and played so many slams where anybody can win,” she said at the time.
“And the seed is just a number. It’s just an advantage so you don’t play another seed first round.
“It doesn’t mean you can’t lose. We’ve seen how a lot of seeds drop out. We’ve seen defending champions drop out. It means nothing.
“I think that’s something that people… fans of the game are a little bit disrespectful when it comes to other players on tour.
Gauff questioned the importance of seeding after being beatenAFP“Maybe the ranking isn’t there. But the level is there. And they’re here for a reason. They deserve their spot. There’s no easy draw. There’s no cake walk or anything.”
After crashing out of Wimbledon last July, Gauff went on to the US Open, where she was once again knocked out in the fourth round of that tournament by Navarro.
Soon after, the US star announced she had split from Gilbert after a 14-month spell together.
While Navarro bettered Gauff at two Grand Slams in 2024, she failed to go on to glory in either tournament.
Navarro is hoping she can reach the QFs of Wimbledon again 12 months onGettyAt Wimbledon, she was beaten in the quarterfinals by Jasmine Paolini.
Now, 12 months on, Navarro has a chance to reach that stage once again.
Standing in her way is 18-year-old Andreeva, who is ranked seventh in the world.
While she is yet to make it past the fourth round at Wimbledon in her young career, the teenager is favored to advance against Navarro.
Of course, the same was said about Gauff last year, and being the underdog is something that ‘Ice Girl’ might relish once again this year.
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