Emma Navarro has had a mixed 2025 season, marked by both triumph and recent struggles. After an impressive run to the Australian Open quarterfinals and clinching her second career WTA title at the Merida Open with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 final victory, the American’s momentum seems to have stalled. In what was telling omen, she struggled on clay all spring, leading into the French Open. Just fresh off her quarterfinal exit at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, where she was defeated by Beatriz Haddad Maia in a hard-fought three-set battle, she arrived at Roland Garros hoping to improve upon last year’s career best 4th round finish. However, her Round 1 at the French Open did not go down well at all.

Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro ignited Roland Garros on Monday with a stunning upset over Navarro, the No. 9 seed, surrendering a mere single game. Maneiro’s performance was so dominant that tennis journalist Jose Morgado exclaimed, “Wow. Jéssica Bouzas bagels Emma Navarro in 28 minutes on Lenglen. Crazy.”

This victory nearly marked a historic shutout, as Bouzas Maneiro came within two points of delivering the first 6-0, 6-0 defeat to a Top 10 player at a Grand Slam since Martina Navratilova’s victory over Manuela Maleeva at the 1989 US Open. But leading by 11 games, a double fault on break point allowed Navarro to finally get on the scoreboard.

The unseeded Spaniard sealed the demolition of Navarro on dirt shortly thereafter. Navarro’s performance stats were grim: a mere 44% success rate on first serve, a paltry 22% on second serve, seven breaks against her, 23 unforced errors, and only four winners. Jessica captured 56 of the 86 total points in what Mark Petchey on truTV described as “a devastating loss,” adding, “I feel like there’s an explanation coming.”

This was the first face-off between the two players. The fans, however, did not hold back expressing their disappointment with Emma’s performance on social media.

Fans call out Emma Navarro for her loss at the French Open

After the match, one fan wrote on X, “Although Navarro is generally a steady player, but at times, I feel like she’s too passive and underpowered. I mean, whilst JBM is no slouch herself, but Emma’s making her look like Sabalenka. 😳 🤨 😬” Emma has shown consistency and aggressive tennis before, helping her reach the third and fourth rounds at Grand Slams. This year at the Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals against Iga Swiatek after beating strong players like Peyton Stearns, Ons Jabeur, and Daria Kasatkina in earlier rounds.

Last year, she reached the fourth round at Roland Garros but lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. This recent battle was similar, except the bagel and breadstick made Bouzas Maneiro look almost as dominant as the three-time Grand Slam champion.

Another fan noted, “Emma looks like she hasn’t played on clay before. I wonder if something is wrong? Spraying errors everywhere…” During the match against the Spaniard, Navarro made four double faults, compared to Jessica’s two. The American was broken seven times, won just 30 of 86 total points, and only 44% of her first-serve points. Navarro also had 23 unforced errors versus just four winners.

One fan tried to justify her game, writing, “Perhaps there is an underlying injury?” But another fan sharply observed, “No. Emma Navarro just doesn’t care. If she cared she would have either withdrawn or not shown up due to injury. Rather she is happy to show up and lose. What has she done to actually improve her game? The answer is nothing.”

“Emma Navarro has been inconsistent all year, she’d soon drop out of the top 10,” read one comment. Navarro’s 2025 season has been inconsistent. After early exits in Brisbane and Adelaide, she reached the Melbourne quarters. But that was followed by first-round losses in Qatar and Dubai. She then clinched the Merida Open title, her second WTA title. Since then, however, she has faced early exits. However, she ended 2024 as ‘Most Improved Player of the Year,’ rising from 38th in 2023 to finish inside the top 10.

A fan looked back to her previous tournament for clues: “I think Emma Navarro was injured during her match at The Strasbourg Open against Bea Haddad Maia.” At the Internationaux de Strasbourg, the No. 2 seed failed to make the semifinal after Haddad Maia staged a comeback to beat her 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Navarro struggled to break early and made multiple errors. Another fan echoed this: “Emma Navarro really struggling these past few tourneys. I hope she’ll get through this well.”

Finally, a fan expressed concern: “Emma’s career is being destroyed by her recurring injuries.” Navarro has not explained her first-round French Open defeat. It’s tough to say what’s next for the American. Will she overcome this shock exit and come back stronger to prove the critics wrong? Let us know what you think in the comments below!