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 referred to 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.
In the present day, Navarro defeated Paula Badosa to achieve her maiden main semifinal on the US Open—the place she’s going to face both Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng for a spot within the ultimate.
If we see a Navarro vs. Zheng rematch it may very well be a grudge match.
Requested about their contentious conflict within the Olympics right this moment, 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 feel throughout that match and, you realize, on the follow court docket and the previous few occasions I’ve performed her, as a result of we now have been taking part in one another since we have 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 feel 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.”
In actual fact 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 through the pair’s heated alternate on the web after the match, in accordance with the AFP. “I feel she goes about issues in a reasonably cut-throat method. It makes for a locker room that does not have a variety of camaraderie, so it is powerful to face an opponent like that, who I actually do not respect.”
Probably the most sudden drama of the day got here after the unimaginable Zheng-Navarro battle.
Qinwen gained 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 feel 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 take into account it an assault as a result of she misplaced the match.”
“She informed me she would not know the way I’ve a variety of followers,” the sixth-seeded Chinese language stated in Paris.
“It seems like she’s not pleased with my conduct in the direction of her. If she’s not glad about my behaviour, she will be able to come and inform me. I want to right it to develop into a greater participant and a greater particular person.
“I am glad that she informed me that. I can’t take into account it an assault as a result of she misplaced the match.”
That tense handshake in Paris may very well be a prelude to a belligerant battle in the event that they face off once more.
Navarro revealed the rivals haven’t spoken because the blow-up in Paris.
“No, I have never spoken to her since. And, no, I did not shock myself,” Navarro stated. “I felt that method the entire match. Even when I had gained, I most likely would have stated the identical factor.
“You understand, it wasn’t a form of, in-the-moment emotional factor, it was simply type of how I felt. I feel it received much more consideration than I believed it was going to.”
