Navarro conquers Boisson 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 in US Open first round

In an intriguing first round match, former world #8 Emma Navarro took on the 2025 Roland Garros semi-finalist, Lois Boisson. Navarro born in New York City but raised in Charleston, SC, fell to #39 in the WTA rankings but with a title in Strasbourg this past spring, is now #27 and seeded 26th. She reached the third round last year after making the final four in 2024 (l. Sabalenka).

Boisson has spent 18 of the past 26 months in rehab since reaching the penultimate round at her home slam in May of 2025. She has endured numerous injuries afflicting her forearm, leg, knee, and foot. She competed in NY for the first time last year losing in the first round and entered this year’s event with a protected ranking.

This was their second tour level meeting. They first competed last fall at the China Open where Boisson retired with a left thigh injury following the first game of the second set.

On Grandstand court during the evening session, Navarro served first and opened with a double fault. Though she followed it with an ace, she dumped serve following two consecutive unforced errors.

(Photo by Mike Lawrence/USTA via Getty Images)

Boisson opened with an ace up the tee and though she faced break point and deuce, held with another ace to consolidate the break for 2-0. The American opened the third with an ace out wide and held easily to 15 with a fantastic forehand down the line.

Boisson struck three additional winners including two aces and held to 30 for 3-1. Navarro donated two forehand errors, faced break point and deuce yet held for 2-3. Boisson missed four consecutive first serves including two double faults and was broken at love.

The 26th seed continued to hug the baseline looking for opportunities to finish points. She made 4/6 first serves and held to 30 while Boisson serving with new balls, donated her third double fault yet held for 4-4 with three consecutive winners including her fifth ace.

Navarro hit two additional aces and held at love for 5-4 while Boisson ripped a forehand down the line and held at love to level. With few extended rallies, the American remained the more consistent player. She struck two incredible groundstroke winners and once again held at love.

Boisson, serving to stay in the set and force the breaker, hit her sixth ace and held to 30 with a formidable serve out wide. While Navarro opened the breaker with an ace out wide, Boisson raced to a 4-1 lead. Navarro leveled at four while Boisson reached set point at 6-5. Navarro leveled at six when Boisson netted a backhand and reached set point following a well-struck serve up the tee. Navarro clinched the breaker with a fabulous crosscourt forehand volley winner to end the match's most riveting point.

Boisson served first in the second and held to love while Navarro held to 15 to level. Boisson opened the third with her fourth double fault and dropped serve following three additional unforced errors. Navarro, serving with new balls, gifted her second double fault and faced deuce and break point yet held to consolidate the break with a stunning crosscourt backhand winner.
Boisson struck her eighth ace but faced break point following her fifth double fault. She faced five deuce points, yet held by making five consecutive first serves while Navarro, with her sixth ace, held easily to 15 for 4-2.

Boisson continued to run around her backhand to hit forehands. She trailed 15-30 when play was suspended at 8:06 pm due to rain. The match resumed the following day at 12:40 pm. Boisson faced two deuce and two break points but held for 3-4 with three consecutive winners, including two aces.

Navarro missed 3/4 first serves yet held to love with her 8th ace. Boisson, serving to stay in the match, opened and closed with aces and held at love for 4-5. Navarro, just four points from the second round, succumbed to the pressure. She missed 4/6 first serves and dumped serve, following two consecutive netted backhands off deep returns.

Boisson continued to up the ante with pace and placement. She opened the eleventh with an overhead smash and closed with a brilliant backhand volley down the line. Navarro, serving to force the breaker, opened with an extraordinary crosscourt forehand and held when Boisson netted the backhand return.

The American was seven points from the second round while the French woman was seven points from a deciding set. Boisson had found her forehand after play resumed. On the return, she crushed one inside-in and, with deft hands, a dropshot winner. Boisson dominated the breaker and flipped the switch, taking it 7-1.

Navarro served first in the decider and held easily to 15 while Boisson struck her thirteenth ace and held to 30 with another exquisite forehand drop shot. The American opened the third with a netted forehand, faced triple break point, and dropped serve with another forehand error.

Boisson missed 4/6 first serves, faced triple break point, and gave back the break with a mishit forehand. Navarro hit two consecutive winners, including an ace out wide, and held to 15 to consolidate the break for 3-2.

Boisson opened the sixth with two consecutive aces and, with a spectacular crosscourt forehand, held at love to level. Navarro struggled but managed to stay ahead despite facing two deuce and break points. She hit three additional winners including her tenth ace and with a well-struck kick serve, held for 4-3.

Boisson faced triple break point following a double fault and dumped serve when Navarro hit an exceedingly difficult backhand overhead smash. Navarro served for the match and, though she faced break point, continued to apply pressure by hugging the baseline and extracting errors from her opponent. Navarro converted her first match point after Boisson’s slice backhand found the net.

This potential popcorn match did not disappoint. It was a hard-hitting, dramatic three-setter with momentum intermittently changing hands while both, for the most part, simultaneously played well.
Navarro finished with ten aces, three double faults, and won 73% of first and 54% of second serve points. While she won only 27% of first serve return points, she won an astonishing 63% of second serve return points. She saved 7/10 break points while converting 4/11.

Next up for the Charlestonian is fellow American Caty McNally. Navarro leads the head-to-head 2-1, but McNally triumphed in three in their most recent encounter, this past June on grass at the Libema Open.