Emma Navarro secured her place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Nottingham Open after battling through another three-set match. The world No. 25 overcame a challenging encounter against Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva, prevailing 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 on Wednesday in a display of resilience and tactical focus.
Navarro Clinches Gritty WTA 250 Event Win in Nottingham
Facing a 3-1 deficit in the final set, Navarro rallied impressively, capturing five of the next six games to seal her victory. She attributed her turnaround to a deliberate, point-by-point mindset that helped her navigate the pressure of the closing stages.
“In that position you just want to think about one point at a time,” Navarro explained after the match. “It’s not recovering the whole set or how you’re going to win the match. Just get to 15, then to 30, then to 40 and see what happens. I did that pretty well.”
This comeback marked Navarro’s second such triumph in as many matches this week at Nottingham. Just two days earlier, she had overturned a set deficit to defeat Anna Bondar in a similarly intense three-set battle.
Reflecting on her grass-court form this season, Navarro expressed satisfaction with her progress. “I feel pretty good. It’s always a work in progress; everything is,” she said. “I’m enjoying the process of trying to get better and I feel good about what I’m doing, and I’m enjoying myself too.”
Fans familiar with Navarro’s journey on the WTA Tour will recognize her composure under pressure, a quality that propelled her to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2024, where she notably defeated Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka in successive rounds.
Her current Nottingham campaign carries added significance, as it follows a two-and-a-half-month injury hiatus that hampered her early season. Returning fit on the clay courts, Navarro has since demonstrated a strong resurgence, building momentum as she advances in this WTA 250 event.