UVA Tennis alum Emma Navarro was eliminated from the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday in a straight-set 6-2, 6-1 quarterfinal loss to #7 seed Jasmine Paolini.
Navarro, the #19 seed, was making her first appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, after upsetting World #2 Coco Gauff on Sunday.
Paolini took control early, breaking Navarro in the sixth game to go up 4-2, and cruised from there.
Even with the loss, Navarro, the 2021 NCAA singles champion at Virginia, is projected to rise to a career-high #14 in the world rankings next week.
“I played the best tennis I’ve ever played in my life this tournament,” Navarro said after the loss on Tuesday. “It’s really exciting to know I have that level inside of me. I know I’ll keep improving on it. I know this isn’t the last time I’m going to be in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. I know I’ll be back.”
Next up for Navarro: the 2024 Paris Olympics. Navarro will be a member of Team USA alongside fellow UVA alum Danielle Collins.
Both Navarro and Collins will compete in the singles draw in Paris.