Emma Navarro equals 16-year tennis record ahead of her Australian Open quarter-final against Iga Swiatek

Emma Navarro has battled through to the Australian Open quarter-finals, with her fine efforts now resulting in a meeting with the in-form Iga Swiatek.

Navarro’s positivity has impressed Jon Wertheim, with the WTA number eight currently enjoying her best Australian Open run.

But Navarro now faces the daunting challenge of taking on five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne.

Swiatek wants a rematch with Coco Gauff, but the former world number one must first turn her attention to Navarro.

The American eighth seed has beaten the likes of Ons Jabeur and ninth seed Daria Kasatkina so far in the first Grand Slam of 2025.

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Emma Navarro plays four three-set matches before Iga Swiatek quarter-final

But unlike Swiatek, it certainly hasn’t been a straightforward run for Navarro, with all four of her matches so far having gone to three sets.

And as per OptaAce, she is now the second player in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals with four three-set matches in the first four rounds since Jelena Dokic in 2009.

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She came from behind in her opener against Peyton Stearns, with the following three matches involving Navarro winning the first and third sets.

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old was tasked with discussing third sets in her most recent post-match press conference.

Asked if it’s more of a physical or mental test at that stage of a match, she responded: “For me, I feel like it’s more of a test of mental will than anything.

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“I have worked really hard on my fitness to be able to go three sets and play over two hours, three hours, whatever it takes. Yeah, I feel like my fitness has definitely paid off here in my first four matches.

“So, yeah, I feel like it’s more mental toughness than anything. I feel like I haven’t been playing my best. Today was definitely the best match I have played. I feel like every match I have been getting a little bit better.

“It’s tough when things get close and you’ve been out there for over two hours and you’re not playing your best. It’s definitely a test of will and toughness.”

Her confidence is clearly growing as the tournament progresses, but Navarro will really need to up her game if she is to make it beyond Swiatek.

The WTA duo have only met once in their careers so far, with the Pole beating the American 6-0, 6-2 in their 2018 Charleston round of 32 clash.

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