HSBC Championships 2025: Third seed Emma Navarro saves match point to reach quarter-finals
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Emma Navarro came back from a set and match point down to beat Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and book her place in the quarter-finals.
Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Navarro saved eight of nine break points in a tight second set as she rallied back to beat the world No.22 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in almost three hours.
The world No.10 and third seed is the first player through to the quarter-finals at the HSBC Championships – her sixth WTA quarter-final of the season so far.
“It wasn’t easy,” the American said in her post-match interview. “I think I spend the most time on a match court with Bea of anyone on tour – we play each other all the time and we always go to three sets. It always comes down to the wire and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy today.
“I had to stay really tough in the second set and fight my way through that, re-group an come out again in the third. I think I played some of my best tennis there in the third so I guess I like to finish strong and I’m happy with that.”
Competing in her first match on grass this season after a lengthy clay court swing, Navarro managed to pick up momentum as she grew through the match.
The 24-year-old will play the winner of Sonay Kartal and world No.15 Amanda Anisimova for a place in Saturday’s semi-finals.
“It’s definitely different,” Navarro said on her transition from the clay to grass. “I’ve only been playing on grass for four days now so it’s a quick turnaround. It’s never a bad day playing on grass and it’s such a blast playing here in London – I’m so glad you’re having us for an extra week this year. It’s an honour to be here this week.”
Coming into the match leading the head-to-head 3-2 and with a victory against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round, Haddad Maia was a force in the opening set.
Navarro looked out of sorts and struggled to adapt to the surface on the Andy Murray Arena – the American lost her opening two service games before a third break sealed an easy opening set for the 2022 Nottingham and Birmingham champion.
Pressure continued to build in the second set, where she had to save eight break points – including five in one game and a match point at 5-4 – to force her way to a tie-break.
Haddad Maia took a 4-2 advantage going into the change of ends, but an issue in the crowd led to a lengthy delay before the next point.
Navarro took the opportunity to gather her thoughts at the back of the court, hoping to spark a comeback that could see her through against a tough grass court opponent.
The delay seemed to build a few nerves for Haddad Maia who came back out and served two double faults as Navarro reeled off five straight points to take the match to a decider.
There was a stark difference between the player in the opening set vs the Navarro that came out in the third. The third seed served much better and looked increasingly more comfortable moving in the long rallies.
A crucial double fault would prove Haddad Maia’s undoing once again facing break point at 4-3 down in the third – allowing Navarro to serve out a hard-fought victory just before the three hour mark.
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