Doha: Emma Navarro's Winning Streak Ends Shortly After Breaking Losing Pattern
Emma Navarro's return to the winner's column was short-lived as the American tennis star lost 5-7, 6-2, 2-6 to Anna Kalinskaya in the Doha second round. The 2024 US Open semifinalist had been on a three-match losing streak heading into the Qatar Open, but on Monday, she finally broke free with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Tatjana Maria.
However, on Tuesday, Navarro faced Kalinskaya in the second round and suffered a setback. Kalinskaya secured a break in the 11th game, taking a 6-5 lead and serving out the set in the following game. Despite losing the first set, Navarro's determination shone through as she broke Kalinskaya in the first game of the second set, forcing a decider with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The momentum seemed to be with Navarro in the third set, but Kalinskaya's resilience prevailed. She earned breaks in the third and seventh games, ultimately winning the decider 6-4, 6-4 and securing a three-set victory. In the Doha round-of-16, Kalinskaya will face No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina.
Navarro's Struggles Continue into 2026
Following her loss to Kalinskaya, Navarro's 2026 record stands at 3-5. This year, she has yet to secure back-to-back wins, reaching the Adelaide International quarterfinal before losing to Diana Shnaider. With a focus on next week's WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, Navarro aims to find her winning rhythm and turn her fortunes around.
