Navarro stuns seventh seed Muchova to reach US Open fourth round

Emma Navarro stunned seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5 on Friday to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open and add another top-10 victory to her season.

The American 26th seed did some of her best work from the baseline, absorbing Muchova’s shots and attacking her opponent’s defenses. Muchova, who returned after minor surgery following her run to the Wimbledon final in July, made 22 unforced errors in the opening set and struggled to find her rhythm.

After the players traded breaks, Muchova dropped serve in the penultimate game when a forehand went wide. Navarro then pushed through a more competitive second set, trading breaks twice before converting her third break point in the 11th game.

Navarro, who reached the semifinals two years ago in a career breakthrough, sealed the win with a forehand winner and thrust both fists in celebration. She said she has played her last six matches in New York on the Grandstand court.

She will face either Elina Svitolina or Anna Kalinskaya in the round of 16. Navarro joined fellow Americans Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula in the fourth round, while Madison Keys and Coco Gauff had yet to play their third-round matches.

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I knew it was going to be tough today.