The clay-court season has already kicked off in Charleston, a city with a deep family connection for the American tennis star, Emma Navarro. She hails this city as the “favorite city in the world“, and why not? Navarro went to school at Ashley Hall in nearby downtown, and it’s also the same place where she made her 2019 WTA debut as an 18-year-old wildcard. Not every player on the Tour gets a chance to play in their hometown during the season. Recently, one of her biggest supporters was seen cheering for her from the stands during her R32 match against her compatriot, Hailey Baptiste, at the 2025 Charleston Open. Who’s that special person, though?
Well, she is none other than Jill Navarro, Emma’s grandmother! Last year, during a post-match interview at Indian Wells, the tennis star gave a shout-out to the special person in her life, saying, “I have to give a special shout-out to my grandmother. She’s 92, and she’s awake, watching at home. I don’t think she’s missed a match since I’ve been on tour. Shout out to Grammy. Thanks for watching.” Emma Navarro hails her grandmother as the “epitome of a strong woman“. She had once confessed how, irrespective of her age, her grandmother’s positivity, love for sports, and energetic presence illuminated every room she walked into.
Recently, Jill brought that same vibe to the Charleston Open. Navarro kicked off her sixth appearance at this WTA 500 with a 6-4,6-3 win over Baptiste. Following this emphatic victory, she was interviewed by the renowned tennis commentator Andrey Krasny. During the interview, Krasny asked her, “Is Grammy here today?” After hearing this, Navarro looked around and smiled with pride, acknowledging one of the biggest fans in her life. After seeing her grandmother smiling back at her, the commentator said, “There’s Grammy! I get to meet her in person. She’s so beautiful. Look at her, Grammy’s here watching you in person.”
Emma Navarro had her grandma in the crowd watching her match against Baptiste in Charleston
Andrew Krasny: “Is Grammy here today?”
*Emma looks around*
Krasny: “There’s Grammy! I get to meet her in person. She’s so beautiful. Look at her, Grammy’s here watching you in person.”… pic.twitter.com/WaEgVnAVGx
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 2, 2025
How big has been the role of her grandmother in her life? Answering this question, Navarro once said, “I always say I want to be my grandmother growing up…Maybe, besides my mom, she is the most caring woman I’ve ever met. She’s 92 but she always has something to bring to the table, which I think is so cool about her.” Not only that, she also revealed that her grandmother “hasn’t missed a match, and she really hasn’t. Even when I was in Australia, she would be up at 4 a.m. watching me play.”
No matter whether she wins or loses a match, her grandmother is the first person she texts after a match. Her grandmother has been the pillar of strength in her difficult times. “She always signs her text, Love Gram, as if I don’t know where it’s coming from. I get a good kick out of that. Yeah, it’s amazing.”
Interesting Fact: Emma’s father, Ben Navarro, bought Charleston Tennis LLC (owners of the Charleston Open) through his company, Beemok Sports LLC, in 2019. He is also the owner of the Western & Southern Open.
How special is it for her to play in front of such super special fans in her hometown? Navarro narrates how she balances the pressure and enjoyment of playing in Charleston.
“It’s amazing” – Emma Navarro shares her thoughts on playing at her hometown
The 23-year-old tennis star has had a decent season so far. She reached the QFs in Auckland and Melbourne, but her biggest success came at the Merida Open Akron, where she defeated Emiliana Arango (COL) by 6-0,6-0 in the final. Although she didn’t have a great outing at the ‘Sunshine Doubles’, Emma Navarro made a strong start in Charleston. How does it feel to get things started on a positive note here?
During her recent post-match interview, Navarro admitted, “It feels good to get a win under my belt here in Charleston. First rounds are never easy, and especially playing in your hometown, you want to do as well as you can in front of the fans and family and friends. So, yeah, definitely felt a little bit of the pressure today, but I expected it, and I’m happy to be moving on.”
Mar 13, 2024; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Emma Navarro (USA) hits a shot in her fourth round match as she defeated Aryna Sabalenka (RUS) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
How does Navarro navigate the pressure of playing in an event and also cherish the opportunity of meeting with friends and family, which she rarely gets for the rest of the season? “Yeah, there’s definitely pressure that comes with it and maybe more expectations and just a heightened desire to do really well. But at the same time, it’s amazing. I feel so lucky to be able to play a tournament in Charleston. Probably my favorite city in the world, and I get to be cheered on by a lot of hometown fans and just people that I could see here in the stands in my match or at the coffee shop by my house. So it’s really cool to be home and kind of give back to them a little bit. And, yeah, I’m trying to manage the pressure, for sure, but also just really enjoy it,” said the tennis star.
Although this is one of her favorite tournaments, Navarro has made five appearances here before, but guess what? She has failed to go past the R16. Can Emma Navarro beat Ashlyn Krueger in her next match and make it to the QF this time?
The post Emma Navarro Radiates Bubbly Energy as Someone Special Fuels Her Charleston Swing appeared first on EssentiallySports.
