Emma Navarro will not compete again in 2026. The former world No. 8 revealed on Instagram Wednesday that she is stepping away from the WTA tour to treat two conditions she kept quiet for three years: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.
Navarro Says WTA Schedule Made Illnesses Worse
The 25-year-old US star said neither condition was diagnosed while she climbed the rankings and reached a US Open semifinal in 2024. Even this September, she fought through symptoms to reach the quarterfinals at the 2026 US Open. It wasn't until after the tournament that she decided to pull the plug on her season.
"My body had been screaming at me for years, and I ignored it," Navarro wrote.
Between 2023 and 2024, Navarro shared she lost nearly 30 pounds as fatigue, dizziness, and headaches piled up. As she continued to compete through her illness, her rankings slipped and critics questioned her abilities. Navarro said she pushed as hard and as long as she could before seeking help.
Navarro Targets 2026 Australian Open Return
Now on medication and a structured nutrition plan, Navarro says she has put some of that weight back on, and she's fine with it.
"I gained some weight this year," she wrote. "But I also gained my life back."
Her latest health update means she'll miss the rest of the WTA scheduled fall swing, targeting the 2027 Australian Open as her comeback.
