‘A Blessing and a Curse’ – Emma Navarro Admits She Feels ‘Far Away’ From Her Best Despite DC Open Win

Emma Navarro has made a strong start to her campaign at the Mubadala DC Open. However, the American believes she is still far from her best tennis after enduring a tumultuous 2026 season.

What Emma Navarro Said About Her Form After Her DC Open Win

Navarro’s season got off to a rocky start. A string of disappointing losses caused her ranking to tumble, while health issues also forced her to miss important events like the Miami Open, the Charleston Open, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, and the Madrid Open.

After her extended absence and an early exit during her Italian Open comeback, the American made a strong turnaround at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. She produced a stellar run at the WTA 500 event and triumphed over Victoria Mboko in the final to clinch her third tour-level title and end a 15-month drought.

Navarro then registered a second-round exit at the French Open. During the grass-court season, she reached the Nottingham Open final before losing in the third round at Wimbledon.

The 25-year-old has now kicked off the North American hardcourt swing by claiming a 6-0, 7-5 win over Sofia Kenin in the first round of the DC Open. Despite the convincing win, Navarro revealed during an appearance on the Tennis Channel that she still feels far from the level she wants to reach.

“Honestly, not that close. I don’t know, maybe it’s a little bit of a blessing and a curse that I never feel that close. I always feel like there’s so many more things to get better at,” Navarro said.

The American also shed light on her perfectionist mindset, explaining that it left her convinced she is still a long way from unlocking her full potential.

“So, I don’t know exactly what I feel my ceiling is, but in my head, I want to be perfect at every single thing on a tennis court. Obviously, that could be a reach, but that’s the goal. And if I feel like I’m not there yet, then then I’m pretty far away,” she added.

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Up next, Emma Navarro will lock horns with Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round of the DC Open. A victory will see her advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 event, where she will meet the winner of the match between No. 3 seed Naomi Osaka and Ashlyn Krueger.

Navarro’s potential semifinal opponents include No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina and defending champion Leylah Fernandez.