By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Photo: Garrett Ellwood/US Open/USTA
NEW YORK – A long-standing rivalry erupted into rift at the Paris Olympics.
Emma Navarro cried Zheng Qinwen after the Chinese superstar saved a match point to beat the American 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1 in Paris.
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Zheng went on to shock the world no.1 Iga Swiatek and beat Donna Vekic to make history as the first Chinese player to win Olympic singles gold.
Today, Navarro defeated Paula Badosa to reach her first US Open major semi-final – where she will face either Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng for a place in the final.
If we see a rematch between Navarro and Zheng, it could be a grudge match.
Asked about their controversial clash at the Olympics today, Navarro said the rift is rooted in disrespect and dates back to their younger days.
“I don’t want to get super into the weeds with him, but I think during that game and, you know, on the practice field and the last few times I’ve played with him because we’ve played with each other since we were junior, I felt a little neglected by her,” Navarro said of Zheng. “You know, I don’t want to, like I said, go into too much detail with it.
“But yeah, I think she didn’t necessarily treat me or the sport with respect. That’s why I said what I said after the game. But, yeah, that’s what it is.”
In fact, after the Olympic loss, Navarro told Zheng that she doesn’t respect her and sees the Chinese as a “cutthroat” competitor.
“I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said when asked what she said during the pair’s heated exchange at the net after the match. according to AFP. “I think she handles things in a pretty blunt way. It creates a dressing room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s hard to go up against an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect.”
The most unexpected drama of the day came after the incredible Zheng-Navarro battle.
Qinwen won after saving match point. The handshake was tense and explained by both players afterwords.
Navarro. “I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor. I think she continues… pic.twitter.com/T6jYQFRaYp
– José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 30, 2024
Zheng was shot in Paris when he said of Navarro’s strikes: “I won’t consider it an attack because she lost the match.”
“She told me she doesn’t know how I have so many fans.” said the Chinese sixth seed in Paris.
“It seems that she is not happy with my behavior towards her. If she is not happy with my behavior, she can come and tell me. I would like to correct her to become a better player and a better person.
“I’m glad she told me that. I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match.”
That tense handshake in Paris could be a prelude to a pitched battle if they meet again.
Navarro revealed that the rivals have not spoken since the Paris blast.
“No, I haven’t spoken to him since. And no, I haven’t surprised myself,” Navarro said. “That’s how I felt throughout the match. Even if I had won, I probably would have said the same thing.
“You know, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, it was just how I felt. I think it got a lot more attention than I thought it would.”
