Emma Navarro has entered her first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open. And no one would be more proud than her family, especially her dad, Ben Navarro, who was in the stands cheering for her, as she ousted Paula Badosa in a thrilling encounter that had everyone on their toes throughout the 2nd test. As Navarro gets ready to face Aryna Sabalenka in the SF, tennis fans might be curious about her beginnings and progress through the ranks.

Most tennis stars enter the circuit quite young. For instance, Coco Gauff made her debut at the age of 14, but what about Navarro? At what age did she make her debut? Navarro’s family’s roots extend from Massachusetts. However, her parents raised their four kids in South Carolina. Moreover, the 23-year-old tennis star was born in New York and raised in Charleston.

Unlike many players who go pro quite young, Navarro made her pro debut during the 2022 season at the age of 21. She didn’t lose focus on her studies and went on to win the NCAA singles championship in 2021.

During an interview with Garden and Guns in April 2024, Navarro declared her love for Charleston and also elaborated on the reason. She said, “Charleston is my favorite city in the world. I love to walk around downtown and see the houses and say good morning or good evening to the people.” 

Moreover, it was at Charleston that the foundation of Navarro’s tennis career was laid and strengthened. Reminiscing her childhood days at the Charleston Day School, Navarro opened up about the time when she got serious about tennis. During her fourth grade, tennis became an irreplaceable part of her life. She said, “I would get up at around 5:45 a.m. and go play tennis for about an hour before school.” Born into a sports-loving family that favored tennis, Navarro was the first one to go pro.

Charleston holds a special place in Navarro’s heart, as it’s pretty evident from her comments. Back in time, in 2019, Emma shared a special moment with her dad Ben Navarro during the Charleston Open.

When Emma Navarro’s Charleston Open debut gave her father emotional and sleepless nights

“I gotta give a lot of credit to my dad. He’s probably the smartest guy I know,” said Emma Navarro during an interview. She reiterated her love and gratitude for her father after her win over Paula Badosa. However, back in time in 2019, Ben Navarro and his daughter both were making their debut in tennis.

Well, Ben was not making his debut as a player, but he had ventured into the world of professional tennis by buying the Charleston Open tournament through his company, Beemok Sports LLC, before making another addition to his collection in the form of the Western & Southern Open, with a $300 million purchase in 2022.

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During an interview before Emma Navarro’s debut, the proud father said, “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I lost a couple nights sleep going up into the tournament. Because it’s the first time she had a chance to play on a stage like that, and you just don’t know. I know if I had to do it, I probably wouldn’t have been able to swing the racket. If you make me talk about it too much, I’ll start crying right here on the set.”

It all began in Charleston, and now at Flushing Meadows in 2024, Emma Navarro is in the reckoning to claim her first Grand Slam. Slowly and steadily, she has made her way to the top. Though Aryna Sabalenka stands tall in her quest to get to the finals. Do you think Emma Navarro can get past Sabalenka? Let us know in the comments below.