By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Picture credit score: Garrett Ellwood/US Open/USTA
NEW YORK—A protracted-time rivalry erupted into rift on the Paris Olympic Video games.
Emma Navarro known as out Zheng Qinwen following the Chinese language celebrity saving a match level to subdue the American 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1 in Paris.
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Zheng went on to shock world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and defeat Donna Vekic to make historical past as the primary Chinese language participant to seize the Olympic singles gold medal.
At this time, Navarro defeated Paula Badosa to succeed in her maiden main semifinal on the US Open—the place she is going to face both Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng for a spot within the remaining.
If we see a Navarro vs. Zheng rematch it might be a grudge match.
Requested about their contentious conflict within the Olympics at this time, Navarro stated the rift is rooted in disrespect and dates again to their junior days.
“I do not wish to go tremendous into the weeds with it, however I believe throughout that match and, you realize, on the observe courtroom and the previous few occasions I’ve performed her, as a result of now we have been enjoying one another since we had been juniors, I felt just a bit bit disrespected by her,” Navarro stated of Zheng. “You understand, I do not wish to, like I stated, go too into element with it.
“However yeah, I believe she did not essentially deal with me or the game with respect. That is why I stated what I stated after the match. However, yeah, that is it.”
Actually after the Olympic loss, Navarro informed Zheng she didn’t respect her and views the Chinese language as “a cut-throat” competitor.
“I simply informed her I did not respect her as a competitor,” Navarro stated when requested what she stated in the course of the pair’s heated change on the internet after the match, in line with the AFP. “I believe she goes about issues in a fairly cut-throat means. It makes for a locker room that does not have quite a lot of camaraderie, so it is robust to face an opponent like that, who I actually do not respect.”
Essentially the most surprising drama of the day got here after the unbelievable Zheng-Navarro battle.
Qinwen received after saving match level. The handshake was tense and defined by each gamers afterwords.
Navarro. “I simply informed her I did not respect her as a competitor. I believe she goes about… pic.twitter.com/T6jYQFRaYp
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 30, 2024
Zheng took a partins shot in Paris when she stated of Navarro’s jabs “I can’t contemplate it an assault as a result of she misplaced the match.”
“She informed me she would not know the way I’ve quite a lot of followers,” the sixth-seeded Chinese language stated in Paris.
“It seems to be like she’s not proud of my conduct in direction of her. If she’s not completely happy about my behaviour, she will come and inform me. I wish to appropriate it to turn into a greater participant and a greater particular person.
“I am glad that she informed me that. I can’t contemplate it an assault as a result of she misplaced the match.”
That tense handshake in Paris might be a prelude to a belligerant battle in the event that they face off once more.
Navarro revealed the rivals haven’t spoken for the reason that blow-up in Paris.
“No, I have not spoken to her since. And, no, I did not shock myself,” Navarro stated. “I felt that means the entire match. Even when I had received, I in all probability would have stated the identical factor.
“You understand, it wasn’t a form of, in-the-moment emotional factor, it was simply sort of how I felt. I believe it received much more consideration than I assumed it was going to.”
