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Emma Navarro Finally Shares Hilarious Story Behind Link-up with Jannik Sinner for US Open Mixed Doubles

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Jannik Sinner “begged” Emma Navarro to pair up with him for this year’s US Open mixed doubles which will be held during the qualifying week. Both Navarro and Sinner have reached the second round of Wimbledon.

Navarro knocked out two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to schedule a clash with Veronika Kudermetova. Following the match, she gave an interview to the Tennis Channel where she was asked about the Sinner link-up. The American ace joked that Sinner begged her to be his partner.

Yeah, he was begging me to play. He was saying, ‘You know, I heard about your volleys and your doubles skills. Please please, will you play with me?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure. I guess, I will play with you. You’re not the best player, but I’ll make an exception and try to get a better partner next’. Yeah, no, I am excited.

When Sinner was asked about Navarro during his pre-tournament press conference, he said the story behind them forming a team was funny but did not reveal what exactly happened. Apart from Sinner and Navarro, other high-profile mixed double pairs include the team of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov, and Iga Swiatek teaming up with Casper Ruud, among others.

Sinner lifted his career’s second Grand Slam singles title at the US Open last year. Navarro, however, has not yet reached the final of her home Major, reaching the semifinals last year, losing the match to eventual champion Sabalenka.

Tim Henman backs Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon ahead of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic is the last player other than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to win a Grand Slam title, for the two youngsters have captured the last six Majors. Djokovic last won a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.

Since then, only once he was successful in reaching a Major final- in last year’s Wimbledon, which he lost to Alcaraz. It was his second consecutive defeat to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final because, in 2023, the Spaniard eked out a five-set win to deny the Serb his Calendar Grand Slam.

Djokovic considers Wimbledon to be the best chance for him to win his 25th Major which has eluded him since last year. The 38-year-old, before this year, reached the finals of the last six Wimbledon.

But to win his eighth Wimbledon title, Djokovic could meet both Sinner and Alcaraz. The three-time Grand Slam champion he could face in the semifinal- for the second consecutive time in a Major.

At this year’s French Open, Sinner knocked the Serb out in straight sets before reaching his first final there and losing a five-set battle against Alcaraz. If Djokovic meets both Sinner and Alcaraz, then he would win both matches, according to former player Tim Henman. He told BBC One:

I think Novak Djokovic would still be able to beat the top two on a grass court. On a clay court, over five hours, probably not at this stage in his career. So I think he could, given his knowledge and know-how of grass court tennis. He has won seven times here and it is less physically demanding than the other surfaces.

Djokovic holds a 5-3 head-to-head lead over the five-time Grand Slam champion, registering his latest win in this year’s Australian Open quarterfinals. Nole, however, trails 4-5 against the 23-year-old.

These three players have secured a berth in the second round. Djokovic will be facing Dan Evans, while Sinner will meet Aleksandar Vukic. Alcaraz knocked out Fabio Fognini and Oliver Tarvet to reach the third round.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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