US Open 2024 QF: Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (13) Emma Navarro vs. (26) Paula Badosa
Date: September 3, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: Quarterfinal
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, U.S.A.
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS | India - Sony Network
Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa preview
Home favorite and 13th seed Emma Navarro will square off against 26th seed Paula Badosa in a blockbuster quarterfinal clash at the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, September 3.
Navarro kicked off her campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Anna Blinkova in the first round. She outplayed Arantxa Rus in the subsequent round with an identical 6-1, 6-1 scoreline. Her first real test came in the third round against 19th seed Marta Kostyuk, but the American eventually came out on top to secure an emphatic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win.
Defending champion and third seed Coco Gauff awaited her in the next round. Navarro started the match strong, outmuscling Gauff from the baseline. Her relentless pressure paid off when she gained an advantage in the sixth game. That break was enough for her to secure the first set.
Navarro started the second set in a similar fashion, continuing to frustrate an error-prone Gauff. A brilliant running down-the-line forehand winner gave Navarro a break and a 4-3 lead. Gauff, however, responded immediately with a break in the next game. With the momentum on her side, Gauff took the set with a break of serve in the 10th game.
Navarro dominated Gauff in the third set, with a series of unforced errors adding to the defending champion's struggles. Three double faults in the final game from Gauff handed Navarro a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
Badosa began her campaign in New York with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 win over Viktorija Golubic in the first round. In the second round, she faced a challenge from crowd favorite Taylor Townsend but secured a routine 6-3, 7-5 victory. In the third round, the Spaniard saved a match point against Elena-Gabriela Ruse and won a dramatic third-set tiebreaker to seal a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8) win.
Badosa took on Wang Yafan in the fourth round. She started on a roll, breaking Wang in her very first service game with a blistering cross-court forehand. Another break in Wang's next service game proved sufficient, allowing Badosa to comfortably take the first set. She continued her dominance in the second set, securing a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory in just one hour and 22 minutes.
Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa head-to-head
Paula Badosa leads Emma Navarro 1-0 in their head-to-head, having won their only previous encounter at the Italian Open earlier this year in an impressive three-set comeback (1-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa prediction
Emma Navarro continues to impress in her breakthrough year on the tour with her deepest run at the US Open to date. She has been consistent from the back of the court and has expertly leveraged the faster surfaces to her advantage. Her serving and net play have shown significant improvement and have been great so far.
Paula Badosa has also been in outstanding form, making a strong comeback in New York. She has been impressive with her serving, net play, conversion rate on break points, and ability to stay focused in key moments throughout the tournament.
The two players head into the clash on the back of some impressive form and winning momentum. A grueling baseline battle is expected, featuring quick points and frequent net approaches from both players. Badosa’s more powerful game and stronger record off late might give her the edge over home favorite Navarro.
Neither player has made it past the quarterfinal stage of a Grand Slam so far. So there's plenty at stake for both of them.
Pick: Badosa in three sets.