"Spoiled rich kid syndrome";"Sore loser" - Fans slam Emma Navarro for 'pathetic attitude' towards Zheng Qinwen after Paris Olympics 3R loss
Emma Navarro's harsh words for Zheng Qinwen after their third-round clash at the 2024 Paris Olympics have not gone down well with tennis fans. The American lashed out at Zheng after the match, criticizing the Chinese for her "cut-throat" attitude.
With a spot in the quarterfinals on the line, Navarro and Zheng engaged in a closely contested battle at Roland Garros. The American had two chances to serve for the match in the second set, but Zheng remarkably fended off a match point and eventually claimed a 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1 victory after a three-hour and 12-minute contest.
The contentious nature of the clash was evident in the duo's heated post-match handshake, with Emma Navarro later revealing that she had intimated to the Chinese that she didn't respect her as a competitor.
Although Navarro gave the World No. 7 credit for her victory, she also emphasized that she didn't respect Zheng, asserting that her "cut-throat" approach didn't allow for camaraderie in the locker room.
"I just told her I didn't respect her as a competitor. I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way. It makes for a locker room that doesn't have a lot of camaraderie, so it's tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don't respect," Emma Navarro said (via Yahoo Sport).
"But, kudos to her, she played some good tennis there at the end. She played better than me, so congrats to her," she added.
Zheng took the criticism in stride, asserting that she is open to hearing the American's complaints to improve as a player and a person. The World No. 7 also insisted that she didn't view the comments as a personal "attack," understanding that emotions are running high after a loss.
"She told me she doesn't know how I have a lot of fans. It looks like she's not happy with my behaviour towards her. If she's not happy about my behaviour, she can come and tell me. I would like to correct it to become a better player and a better person. I'm glad that she told me that. I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match," she said.
Tennis fans did not take kindly to Emma Navarro's harsh words for Zheng Qinwen. Many took digs at the 23-year-old's background as the daughter of billionaire businessman Ben Navarro, suggesting that her apparent entitlement was influenced by her being a "spoiled rich kid."
"Spoiled rich kid syndrome," one fan commented.
"This is why Pegula will always be my favourite nepo baby in tennis," another fan chimed in.
"Girl who has never had to fight for anything in her life ever is appalled by *checks notes* competitive spirit…lemme act shocked!" said another.
Several fans also lambasted the American for her "pathetic attitude," questioning why she expected camaraderie in such a highly competitive environment.
"I just read this again, so Emma told her at the handshake she doesn't understand why Zheng has so many fans? Whaaaat. Pathetic attitude," one fan posted.
"She is there to compete… not there to be your friend?" another fan wrote.
"Navarro's not entitled to dictate how someone else acts especially a competitor" a fan argued.
Others, meanwhile, shared their admiration for Zheng's "classy" response to Emma Navarro's undue criticism.
""I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match" is pretty much the best imaginable response. Puts Emma Navarro in her place while remaining classy," one fan commented.
"Zheng’s response is so classy i feel embarrassed for navarro, just sounds like a sore loser," another fan chimed in.
"Qinwen’s response is so genius it needs to be studied in school lol makes it a 1-sided beef bc she is the bigger person/so much more mature but also hints that many would (rightly) think this is just baseless whining in response to losing from MP up (she wouldnt do that tho," said yet another.
Zheng Qinwen to take on Angelique Kerber in Paris Olympics QF after win over Emma Navarro
Following her win over Emma Navarro, Zheng Qinwen will face a formidable opponent in Germany's Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Kerber continued her dream run in the final tournament of her career, claiming a commanding 6-4, 6-3 win over Canada's Leylah Fernandez to book her place against the sixth seed.
The German emerged victorious in their sole previous tour-level encounter, beating the Chinese 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at the 2022 Indian Wells Open. If Zheng Qinwen manages to level their head-to-head record by advancing to the semifinals in Paris, she will take on the winner of the blockbuster clash between Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins.