Photo Source: TC
Indian Wells, California – Emma Navarro was 5-0 in deciders in 2025 until she met Sorana Cirstea in Dubai last month. She was nearly 5-2 with two consecutive three-set losses to the Romanian until she snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Romanian in a cliff-hanger for the ages on Saturday night at Indian Wells.
Navarro saved a pair of match points in the ninth game of the final set and finished off Cirstea in a tiebrek to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3) and book her spot in the third round, where Croatia’s Donna Vekic waits.
“I keep it cool, calm and collected for you guys,” she told the enthusiastic crowd who braved the chilly desert evening until just shy of 11 PM.
What’s been the key to Navarro’s steady play over the last year?
“I think mental toughness,” she said. “Nights like tonight when I’m not playing my best, I just try to get the most out of myself, and I think that’s what makes me a good player sometimes.”
Cirstea, who defeated Navarro in the round of 16 at Dubai, 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5, had double match point while serving for the match at 5-3, 40-15. Navarro came up clutch on both, but the second save was the more memorable, as the American crouched down to dig out a Cirstea forehand, popping it up over her head for a clean winner. She then finished off the break and held serve to level at 5-all. After two more holds, Navarro took control in the tiebreak, and finished off the win by converting her second match point.
Navarro is becoming a reliable attraction at Indian Wells. Last year she took out Aryna Sabalenka and reached her first quarterfinal in the desert. Fresh off her second career title at Merida, Mexico last week, the 23-year-old stretches her current winning streak to five matches.
She is 11-5 overall on the year, and 6-1 in deciding third sets.