Emma Navarro To Face Christina McHale Monday at the US Open
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The USTA released the 2021 US Open Women’s Singles Draw with Virginia women’s tennis sophomore Emma Navarro (Charleston, S.C.) slated to play fellow American Christina McHale in the first round. The US Open runs from August 30-September 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
Navarro and McHale will play the fourth match on Court 5 on Monday (Aug. 30).
On Saturday (Aug. 28), the USTA announced that Navarro was also awarded a wildcard entry into the women’s doubles championship. She and partner Hailey Baptiste will face Ukrainians Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk.
“There’s nothing like playing in New York,” Navarro said. “I think it is the best tennis atmosphere in the world and I am super excited. I had a great season at UVA last year. It is great playing college tennis and playing on a team. I was really happy how that has rewarded me by getting this wildcard. I’m grateful to be here in New York and I’m ready and excited to play!”
As the 2021 NCAA Singles Champion, Navarro was awarded a wildcard into the main draw by the USTA for her Grand Slam debut. She twice played in the Junior US Open.
Named the 2021 ITA National Freshman of the Year, Navarro entered the 2021 NCAA Singles Championship as the No. 3 seed and went on to capture the 2021 NCAA Singles Championship as well as being a semifinalist in doubles. She began her career by winning her first 14 singles matches and ranked as high as No. 1 in the ITA national rankings. She was a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for tennis.
McHale is currently ranked No. 119. Navarro, who has competed in two WTA main draws this summer, including playing in the doubles field of the Western and Southern Open, a premier 1000-level event, reached a career-high world ranking of No. 318.
UVA alumna Danielle Collins earned the No. 26 seed in the singles tournament. She will open play by facing two-time US Open quarterfinalist Carla Suárez Navarro of Spain. The duo will be the second match on Court 5 on Monday (Aug. 30).
Both Collins and Navarro are playing in the bottom half of the women’s singles draw.