Emma Navarro, a local favorite from Charleston`s Daniel Island courts, achieved a personal milestone by reaching the quarterfinals of the Credit One Charleston Open for the first time. She overcame a slow start in her match against Ashlyn Krueger, the No. 15 seed, eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Navarro`s quarterfinal opponent will be another American player, Amanda Anisimova, the No. 8 seed. Anisimova also advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating No. 10 seed Yulia Putintseva in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Despite being the same age and growing up in similar tennis circles, Navarro and Anisimova have only played each other twice before. Anisimova won both of their previous encounters: once at Indian Wells in 2022 and again at Toronto last year.
In her match against Krueger, Navarro faced early pressure, losing the first set and falling behind in the second. However, she managed to turn the tide, capitalizing on errors from Krueger and showcasing aggressive forehand play to secure the victory.
Anisimova`s match against Putintseva was marked by Anisimova`s consistent aggressive play, contrasting with Putintseva`s attempts to slow down the rallies. Anisimova demonstrated strong composure and waited for opportunities to hit winning shots, ultimately taking the match.
Putintseva struggled with her usually reliable touch, committing an uncharacteristic number of unforced errors, which contributed to Anisimova`s win.
