American tennis player Emma Navarro says she is entering the 2026 season focused on performance rather than perception, pushing back against claims that her success is tied to her family name.
Navarro, currently ranked world No. 15, spoke to the NZ Herald ahead of the WTA Auckland tournament, where she will open her season after a mixed 2025 campaign. The 24 year old said she is comfortable operating outside the spotlight often occupied by fellow American players and prefers to let her results speak for themselves.
“It does not bother me at all,” Navarro said of receiving less attention. “If I manage to go unnoticed, that is where I would like to be. I am not someone who seeks the spotlight, and if people underestimate me, that is fine.”
Navarro also addressed frequent references to her father, Ben Navarro, a billionaire investor and chief executive of Sherman Financial Group. While acknowledging his influence as a role model, she rejected the suggestion that her career was handed to her.
“I do not like being labeled because of that,” Navarro said. “I was not given everything growing up. We learned toughness and work ethic. Tennis was always a priority, and we earned our way.”
After reaching the US Open semifinals and winning her first WTA title in 2024, Navarro described 2025 as a challenging year marked by inconsistency. She said the physical demands, travel, and expectations of the tour tested her resilience but also contributed to her development.
“The tour is tough,” she said. “There is pressure, there is travel, and you are away from family. But I am always learning, and the level keeps rising.”
Navarro will begin her 2026 campaign at the ASB Classic in Auckland, aiming to regain momentum and push back toward the WTA top 10. She said time away from the court during the offseason helped her reset ahead of the new year.
“I enjoyed being home and not feeling like a tennis player for a while,” Navarro said. “Now I am excited to compete again and build on the work I have been doing.”
