Emma Navarro needed three sets and two days to open her 2026 US Open campaign. The 26th seed outlasted France's Loïs Boisson 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-3 in a first-round match on Sunday that stretched into Monday thanks to a late-night rain delay.
Emma Navarro Outlasts Loïs Boisson in Marathon Opening Round
Navarro had built a 4-2 second-set lead before the weather suspension. When play resumed, however, Boisson leveled the match by running away with the tiebreaker 7-1 to force a decider. The shift was brief as Navarro broke serve twice in the third and converted her second match point to close it out.
"I'm just proud of my toughness," Navarro said. "It's not easy being that close and losing a tough set."
Still, Boisson made her presence felt across three sets, firing 15 aces to the Navarro's 10. Her frustration surfaced after the final point, when she destroyed her racket on court.
Navarro Stages Comeback at 2026 US Open
For Navarro, the win extends a steady return to form.
She reached the US Open semifinals during her breakout 2024 season but stepped away from the tour from March through May this year. She'll face fellow US star Caty McNally in Wednesday's second round.
