Emma Navarro ended her 14-month wait for a WTA title on Saturday.
The American star, who has endured a difficult start to her 2026 campaign, defeated Victoria Mboko 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 to win her third career title at the Strasbourg Open.
By clinching the title in Strasbourg, Navarro won her first event since March 2025.
Navarro has struggled for form for the majority of the season – she had won only five of 16 matches heading into the Strasbourg Open.
Her title-winning performance in Strasbourg will certainly give her a confidence boost ahead of her first-round match at the French Open, which began on Sunday.
Tracy Austin, a great of American tennis, has since offered her reaction to Navarro’s triumph in Strasbourg.
Tracy Austin lauds Emma Navarro’s Strasbourg Open campaign
“Fantastic week for Emma Navarro beating Jovic and Mboko for another title!” the 1981 US Open champion [pictured below] said in a post on X [formerly Twitter].
“Driving the backhand, forehand so heavy with spin. Great drop-shots and slides so well on the clay.”
Navarro certainly performed superbly in Strasbourg, and the American will hope that her title-winning campaign in the French city can spur her on in Paris.
Emma Navarro’s run in Strasbourg
- Round of 32: beat Sara Bejlek 6-1, 6-4
- Round of 16: beat Iva Jovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
- Quarter-finals: beat Shuai Zhang 2-6, 7-6, 6-2
- Semi-finals: beat Ann Li 6-1, 6-3
- Final: beat Victoria Mboko 6-0, 5-7, 6-2
Navarro, who is unseeded at the French Open, will play Indonesian world number 40 Janice Tjen in the first round.
Navarro and Tjen have never played each other before on the WTA Tour.
If Navarro were to defeat Tjen, she would play Filipina star Alexandra Eala or 17th seed Iva Jovic in the French Open second round.
A third round appearance in Paris would likely see Navarro square off against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Navarro has beaten Osaka in their two previous meetings on the Tour, last defeating the Japanese star at the 2025 Bad Homburg Open.
Navarro also beat Osaka at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
Emma Navarro’s best performance in Roland Garros
Despite turning professional in 2015, Emma Navarro will be embarking on only her fourth Roland Garros campaign at this year’s event.
In 2023, Navarro defeated Erika Andreeva in her debut match, before losing to 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
The American enjoyed her best result to date at the 2024 French Open, defeating Zeynep Sonmez, Sara Errani and Madison Keys on her way to the fourth round.
There, she was defeated by second seed Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 3-6.
Give us your one wild prediction for Roland Garros!
Last year, Navarro suffered a tough loss at the hands of Spanish player Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Bouzas Maneiro dominated proceedings throughout the contest, winning 6-0, 6-1 against the ninth seed.
