Charlestonian Navarro conquers compatriot Krueger at the Credit One Open

Navarro knocks out Krueger 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach quarterfinals

The tour transitioned from the hardcourts of Miami to har tru in South Carolina. The Credit One Charleston Open, a WTA 500 event, showcased an all-American battle between two of the tour’s most accomplished players.

Ashlyn Krueger, just twenty, has achieved a career-high rank of 34 on the heels of her final appearance in Abu Dhabi (l. Bencic) earlier this season. Two weeks ago, at the Miami Open, she dispatched then-world #8 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Emma Navarro attained a career-high rank of #8 last fall but is currently ranked eleventh. With two career titles, the twenty-three-year-old was seeking her first quarterfinal appearance on home turf. This was their second tour-level meeting; Navarro triumphed 6-1, 6-1 on the dirt in the final at the W60 Charlottesville.

(image via https://x.com/CharlestonOpen)

Navarro the 4th seed won the toss and elected to serve. Although she made 5/6 first serves, she faced break point and dumped serve as Krueger crushed the forehand return. Krueger opened with two consecutive errors including a double fault and gave back the break with her fourth unforced error.

Navarro made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 while Krueger gifted two errors and two aces to level at two. Navarro missed 4/5 first serves, faced triple break point, and dropped serve while Krueger consolidated the break for 4-2 with a blistering backhand down the line.

Navarro serving with new balls made 4/4 first serves and held to love and Krueger returned the favor, holding at love for 5-3 with two crosscourt forehand winners. Navarro serving to stay in the set missed 3/5 first serves yet held to 15 while Krueger opened with a double fault and faced deuce before securing it 6-4.

The world #11 served first in the second and though she hit two outstanding winners, faced three break points, and dumped serve. Krueger continued to dictate play but faced two deuce and two break points before consolidating the break for 2-0. It appeared as though the 15th seed was headed for a straight sets victory but Navarro refused to capitulate.

Despite missing 4/5 first serves, the hometown favorite held to 15 to get on the board. Krueger made 3/5 first serves and struck a potent forehand crosscourt but dropped serve following her fourth double fault.

Navarro continued to struggle on serve but held to 15 to consolidate the break. Krueger serving with new balls made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 for 3-3. Navarro led 40-15 but faced two deuce points before holding with a marvelous backhand down the line. Krueger made 5/6 first serves yet faced double break point and dropped serve after Navarro ripped the forehand return inside-in.

Navarro served for the set but gave back the break following two spectacular backhand returns from her opponent. Krueger serving to stay in the set and level at five conceded it with another double fault and a netted forehand.

Navarro served first in the decider and with an ace out wide held easily to 15 while Krueger missed 5/8 first serves and faced double break point before holding for 1-1. Navarro missed 6/8 first serves and faced triple break point but with a fantastic forehand drop shot battled and held for 2-1.

Krueger opened the fourth with her sixth double fault and dropped serve following a forehand return let cord winner. Navarro missed three consecutive first serves but with another ace out wide consolidated the break at love for 4-1.

Krueger opened the sixth with her seventh double fault and dropped serve following two consecutive backhand errors. Navarro serving for the match donated two double faults and gave back the break while Krueger gifted four consecutive unforced errors to concede it.

While it was a hard-hitting and intermittently high-quality match, the unforced errors eclipsed the winners. Navarro concurred, “ had some ups and down with my serve but I think the way I returned allowed for that to happen and me to be okay. So, yeah, happy with that, my performance today.”

In the quarters, Navarro will combat another compatriot. Amanda Anisimova is a WTA 1000 champion having triumphed in Doha in February. The twenty-three-year-old from NJ is at a career-high rank of #16, is seeded 8th, and leads the head to head – both on hard court - 2-0.