American Emma Navarro wins 2024 Hobart International win three-set win over Elise Mertens
A rising American star has won the 2024 Hobart International in a three-set epic.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While she may have once been happy to just have a ‘decent’ American college career, Emma Navarro’s maiden WTA final win at the Hobart International is further proof she is capable of much more.
The star 22 year-old pulled off the biggest win of her short WTA career, defeating former two-time tournament champion Elise Mertens in a three-set epic.
The 2 hour and 48 minute battle was just the sixth three-set final in tournament history with Navarro producing an almighty third-set fightback to eventually take the win 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in front of 2,232 fans at the Domain Tennis Centre.
“I don’t know if I can put words to the emotions but it’s been a lot of years in the making,” Navarro said post-match.
“My coach (Peter Ayers) and I have been together for eight years and from where we started to where we are now is really crazy to think about. Probably six or seven years ago I was just hoping to be a decent college player and that was going to be good enough for me.
“So to be here now is really crazy and a testament to the work we have both put in. I’m just really appreciative of the team I’ve had around me my entire tennis career, and my family for just their support. They’ve been up all hours of the night this week watching me play so just really thankful to have them in my corner.”
After taking the first set in just 35 minutes, Navarro dropped the second, despite winning three of the opening five games, with her power on both backhand and forehand troubling the Belgian star throughout.
Mertens eventually took the second set and looked likely to add a third Angie Cunningham trophy to her resume when she took a 5-4 lead in the last.
But the plucky American young gun somehow swung the momentum back in her favor, winning the next two games to etch her name alongside former winners Sofia Kenin, Kim Clijsters and Alicia Molik.
“I felt like I played a really good first set and then I let the nerves get the best of me a little bit in the second set,” Navarro said.
“I had so many chances where I was serving, up a break, and lost my serve a little bit. Dealing with those elements and the wind, it’s those adversities that you have to deal with as a tennis player but I’m really happy with how I was able to work through that and stick in there mentally and physically.”
Mertens was her ever humble and positive self despite the loss and was proud to have made her third Hobart final after saluting in 2017 and 2018.
“That’s the game of tennis,” Mertens said.
“Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I gave everything I had today but she played very well at the key moments.”
It was the second year in a row the Hobart International was won by an American following Lauren Davis’s win last summer.
SEMI-FINAL WRAP
Daria Saville’s dream run at the Hobart International is over with the Australian going down to Elise Mertens in semi-final action on Friday.
The Australian, who recently returned from an ACL injury, went down to the tournament’s number one seed 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a contest that ran for almost three hours.
Entering the tournament as a wildcard, Saville had performed incredibly well in one of her first major tournaments since returning but the world number 29 was just too good for her at critical stages.
Despite her week in Hobart ending a day earlier than she’d have liked, Saville said her final four berth in Hobart had given her huge confidence heading into the Australian Open.
“I think it was a great level (of competition) in really tough conditions but I’m proud of myself,” she said.
“I got a bit nervous in the end, maybe a lack of playing (in big games) recently but overall I think it was a great week.
“I can build on this and I’m excited for more.”
A former world number 20, Saville also sent a strong warning to the rest of the field in Melbourne ahead of her first round matchup against
“I think it (semi-final berth in Hobart) shows that I’m in a good headspace and mentally strong,” she said.
“I’m maybe better (than when around the top 20 mark). I can hopefully build on that. I can’t just be expecting to be playing like that though, I have to continue to work hard for every match and every point.”
The win was a major one for Mertens who will now look to win her third Hobart International title following back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019.
Already the only multiple winner of the Angie Cunningham trophy, Mertens will face rising American star Emma Navarro, who punched her ticket to a maiden WTA final with a straight sets win over China’s Yue Yuan.
Navarro won the clash 6-4, 6-3 with Saturday’s final the first time the top two seeds have reached the decider in Hobart since 1998.
Saturday’s game will kick off at 1pm.
DAY FOUR WRAP
Daria Saville’s confidence is growing ahead of the Australian Open.
The 29-year-old toppled Lin Zhu to move into the Hobart International semi-finals on Thursday night as she showed her best form since returning from a knee injury last year.
It was another impressive performance from Saville who beat former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin on Wednesday in straight sets.
“I feel much better with my body and I think I will be as good as new tomorrow,” Saville said post-match.
Saville was forced to come from behind after dropping the first set 3-6.
The former top-20 ranked Aussie credited a self pep-talk as a turning point in the match.
“I think she was the better player in the first set, that’s for sure.
“But I found my game and didn’t give up. I tried to turn it around and be more aggressive and it paid off.
“I think it is easier when the whole crowd is here supporting you.
“I thought when I sat down after losing the first set, I just thought to myself ‘be in the moment, play one point at a time, every new point is a new battle’.”
She’ll now face top seed Elise Mertens in the semi-final on Friday.
“She’s someone you always have to beat, she never just gives it to you,” Saville said.
“She’s won it here a few times so she obviously likes playing here.”
EARLIER ON DAY FOUR
Rising American tennis prospect Emma Navarro has credited a strong mental game for her impressive start to the 2024 season.
The 22-year-old moved through to the Hobart International semi-finals on Friday with a come-from-behind win over Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova.
After dropping the first set 4-6, Navarro comfortably fought back to claim the second and third sets 6-3 and 6-2 respectively.
It was the third time already this season the world number 31 has been forced to fight from a set down including in her first tournament of the year in Auckland.
But Navarro said she was never willing to throw in the towel.
“I’d love to win in two (sets) but I’ll take the three-set win,” she said with a laugh.
“I never feel out of it, I never feel it’s over until the last point is played. I’ll always stick in there and keep fighting.
“I think I started the second set much more committed to how I wanted to play then I played in the first set.
“That’s something that’s great about tennis, is the sport is always resetting. There’s always that opportunity to reset your mindset.
“I did that in the second set and then came out really strongly in the third set.”
Post-match, Navarro said she had been challenged by the “tough” windy conditions in Hobart but was pleased to have moved through to the final four.
“Yeah feeling good,” she said.
“Happy with how I was able to dig in there, not my best tennis at times but just feeling mentally tough and happy with how I’m able to work through those tough moments.”
Earlier in the day, two-time champion Elise Mertens moved through to the final four with a dominant 7-6, 6-0 win over Arantxa Rus.
After the match, she said she was pleased in particular with her second set performance.
DAY 4 — EVENING SESSION
Daria Saville has proven why she could be a dangerous opponent for the seeded players at the Australian Open starting on Sunday.
The 29-year-old move through to the Hobart International on Wednesday night with a straight sets (7-6, 6-1) win over 2019 champion Sofia Kenin in a sign she is peaking at the perfect time.
Saville received a wildcard into the first grand slam of the year and will now face Lin Zhu in Thursday’s last eight clash.
Winning in an hour and 37 minutes, Saville said post-match she was beginning to find more confidence in her body.
In the second set she blew the American off the court with 13 aces.
“It just gives me confidence and the belief that maybe I was lacking since coming back from an ACL and it’s nice reward, not just for me, but for everyone in my team,” Saville said.
“Definitely, yeah. I think I can still improve a lot but since coming back from injury, that’s the best I’ve played.
“I think Sofia dropped off and little bit, her intensity went down and when she didn’t hold when she was down one-love and 40-love I think that kind of hurt her.
“But I built the confidence, I was more aggressive and then I think her intensity went down a little bit.
“Every tournament that I play is its own tournament, I don’t treat this as a warm up. I want to go as deep as possible.”
DAY 3 — DAY SESSION
Elise Mertens has warned opponents she’s only getting better as she eyes off a third Hobart International title.
The Belgian star won through to the last eight with a dominant straight sets win against Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova on Wednesday.
Despite the 6-2, 6-3 win, the world number 29 admitted she wasn’t completely happy with her performance on centre court.
“It was definitely a tough match,” Mertens said.
“I’m pretty pleased with my game, I think I can always improve. I’m the player who always thinks ‘I can do this better and this better.
“My shots were a little bit less quality than against my first round opponent so I would like to work on that a little bit.
“But of course I need to relax a little bit to get my recovery going and trust myself with the wind a little bit more.”
Mertens will do battle with Arantxa Rus for a place in the last four on Thursday after the Dutch veteran recorded a straight sets win over Varvara Gracheva.
The pair are former hitting partners have met on two previous occasions with Mertens winning both of those meetings.
Recovery will be key for Rus who also took part in a doubles game on Wednesday.
Mertens said she didn’t remember too much from her previous clashes against the left-hander.
“I’m really looking forward to my match and I’m trying to improve myself,” she said.
“That would be amazing, to win a title three times is almost unheard of.
“We’re only in the quarter-finals and we’re only in the middle of the tournament. I need to win three more (matches), it’s close but it’s still pretty far away.”
DAY TWO — EVENING SESSION
Australia has just one local left standing at the Hobart International.
Olivia Gadecki’s Australian Open preparations took a hit after she was eliminated in the first round of the WTA Tour event on Tuesday night by China’s Xinyu Wang in three sets on Tuesday night.
Wang prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the second meeting between the pair during their young careers with the Chinese star also winning their previous match at the same tournament last year.
Gadecki was unable to make the most of her break point opportunities, converting four out of 11 throughout the match.
The 21-year-old will now turn her attention to doubles action alongside fellow Aussie Kim Birrell with the pair in action on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, former US Open champion and world number three Sloane Stephens was sent packing by Yue Yuan in a two hour and 50-minute epic.
After coming through qualifying, Tuan stunned the American to move through to the second round.
“I’m very excited to win [against] a Grand Slam champion … I sat at home and watched her win on TV,” Yuan said.
“Today, sometimes I played well and I had to push myself, I had nothing to lose, I had to be very aggressive.”
DAY TWO — DAY SESSION
Another former Hobart International champion has advanced through to the second round with Sofia Kenin’s win on day two setting up a massive clash against Australian Daria Saville on Wednesday.
The 2019 champion won through comfortably in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Belgium’s Greet Minnen in just over an hour.
Kicking off the action on centre court, Kenin looked like a woman on a mission from the outset.
The world number 38 took the opening two games of the first set before wrapping it up in just over 30 minutes.
Minnen would continue to hang around throughout the second but Kenin’s power, especially on return serve, was too much for the young Belgian to handle.
Now set to face Saville for the first time ever, Kenin was pleased with her opening performance at a tournament that holds fond memories for the American.
“It’s going to be very tough,” Kenin said of the matchup against Saville.
I’ll do my best but she is obviously very feisty and a fighter so we will see, hopefully I can get a win.
“We’ve practised a few times but I don’t think I’ve ever played her (Saville) in a match.
“I think it helps (not having played before) but I’ve practised with her and we know each other’s games.”
In other day two action, former US open winner Sloane Stephens suffered her second straight Hobart International first round exit with the American losing an almost three hour battle to China’s Yue Yuan.
The 25 year-old claimed the first set against the American but Stephens wouldn’t go down without a fight, taking the second in a marathon one hour set.
The third and final set between the two was just as good with Yuan eventually winning 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 to advance to the round of 16.
2023 runner up Elisabetta Cocciaretto was also knocked out on Tuesday, with the Italian sensationally defeated by qualifier Yulia Putintseva 0-6, 7-5, 7-6.
After losing the first ten games to Cocciaretto, Putintseva pulled off an almighty recovery to continue her dream run in Hobart.
World number 63 Nadia Podoroska’s clash with Germany’s Tatjana Maria came to an end midway through the second set when Podoroska retired with a right shoulder injury.
Maria had taken the first set 6-1 before Podoroska’s fightback was ended with the second set at 4-3.
In the day’s other two singles games, Caroline Dolehide advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 straight sets win over Mayar Sherif and Viktoriya Tomova defeated Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-3.
Australian Olivia Gadecki took to the court on Tuesday night with that result available online post-match.
DAY ONE – NIGHT SESSION
It was far from easy but Australian Daria Saville has produced an almighty fightback to secure a first-round win at the Hobart International on Monday night.
Saville, who was granted wildcard entry into the tournament following her return from an ACL injury, defeated world number 46 Anna Blinkova in 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 two hour and 15 minute slugfest.
Fighting back from a set down, the Australian also had to overcome a late blunder when she double faulted when serving for the match in the third set.
Up 5-3 as the contest ticked over the two hour mark, Saville’s double fault threatened to change the momentum in the game but in a twist of irony, she would end up winning the clash thanks to a double fault from Blinkova just minutes later.
“It’s my first top 50 win in a while,” Saville said post-match.
“It’s really nice after all of my injuries to be back playing at home.
“As soon as I sat down I thought that stupid double fault. I tried to hit it too well but the kids (behind me) just said it’s fine, let’s go and that actually inspired me.
“It’s not easy to get past that, sometimes you fail, but I thought just play every point and had a real focus on my first return and to take one step at a time.”
The 29 year-old, who was also granted wildcard entry into next week’s Australian Open, added a change in racquet following the first set also helped her claw her way back into the match.
“I don’t think I started well. I kind of let her dictate too much and I think I was fighting a little bit,” she said.
“I ended up changing my racquets a few times and when I finally found the right tension, it really helped.”
Saville will now face the winner of Tuesday’s first-round match between Sofia Kenin and Greet Minnen with fellow Australian Olivia Gadecki to face Xinyu Wang in the night match.
DAY ONE – DAY SESSION
It had all the makings of a Hobart International classic but in the end a clinical performance from two-time champion Elise Mertens saw her breeze into the second round with a win over Danielle Collins on Monday.
The world number 29 easily took care of the American in their round of 32 clash, taking victory 6-2, 6-3 in just under an hour and fifteen minutes.
Going up 4-0 early in the first set, Mertens appeared to have every answer for the world number 54.
Collins fought back to take two consecutive games, thanks to some terrific shot placement that somewhat surprised the Belgium native, before she recovered to take the opener in just over 30 minutes.
Despite winning the opening two games of the second, frustration began to boil over for the 2022 Australian Open finalist when Mertens fought back to even the ledger at 2-2.
An audible exchange with her support staff could be heard in-between games as Mertens would wrap up the clash and send her packing from the tournament.
Now set to face comeback queen Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Mertens credited her strong start as a reason behind her win.
“I had a good start and tried to keep my serve going,” she said.
“It’s very important to try and get that advantage against her (Collins), but of course I knew the type of player she is and that she would fight back.
“I was able to keep my cool and tried to play my own game.”
Karolina Schmiedlova was the star of the show on the opening day of play, fighting back from a double break down in the third to defeat Camila Osorio 6-1, 7-6, 7-5 in a two and a half-hour epic.
Day one’s other two games also crossed the two-hour mark with Varvara Gracheva defeating Peyton Sterns and Arantxa Rus knocking off Linda Fruhvirtova.
Australian Daria Saville is the headline act on night one with that result to come post-game.
Busiest man in Australia? Brendon Gale’s massive to-do list as Tassie Devils CEO
Incoming Tasmanian Devils CEO Brendon Gale will have a mountain of work on his desk for his first day in the role in February. Here are the priorities he must tackle to ensure the newest AFL club is a success.
Blues lock in dynamic duo in signing coup
Two of the NTFA’s most dangerous players have signed with Launceston, and chasing representative goals is a major factor behind their return to Windsor Park.