Daniel Island's Emma Navarro wins big in tennis
It’s not unusual for Emma Navarro to spend a couple weekends a month on the road, honing her tennis skills.
But it was another recent trip that shows the 15-year-old’s mettle, might and talent, both on the court and in the classroom.
The freshman at Ashley Hall traveled to Palo Alto, Calif. to visit Stanford, one of the top universities in the country. She hopes to matriculate to the school, but before she becomes part of the Stanford Class of 2024, there is work to be done.
In the meantime, Navarro is willing to put in the mileage, put in the work. After all, she’s been playing tennis since she was 3, and comes from a family that has produced other talented players. She’s even considered life as a pro on the WTA circuit.
Navarro traveled to Virginia Beach in July and came home with a national championship trophy.
She teamed up with 14-year-old Chloe Beck of Watkinsville, Ga. to win the USTA national girls’ 16 clay court doubles title.
The dynamic duo just didn’t win, it dominated. Ranked No. 2 in the country, Navarro and Beck didn’t lose a set in the prestigious tournament and hardly broke a sweat in the championship match, posting a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alexa Noel of Summit, N.J., and Payton Stearns of Mason, Ohio.
“Chloe and I met about a year-and-a-half ago,” said Navarro who comes from a tennis family. Her father, Ben, is the owner of LTP Tennis and Swim Club in Mount Pleasant. “We played in an intersectional tournament, and we’ve played a lot together, ever since. It’s my biggest accomplishment. It was definitely easier than I thought it would be.”
One month it was a trip to Virginia Beach. The next month brought a trip to San Diego to compete in the USTA National Hard Court Championships. Navarro reached the quarterfinals in singles, while she and Beck played in the championship in doubles.
Success follows Navarro and Beck. They won the first tournament they teamed up in, the Sweet Sixteen in Delray Beach, Fla. Last year. They won the prestigious Eddie Herr tournament doubles crown, both in 14-and-under. When they moved up to 16-and-under doubles, they continued to win with the Easter Bowl title in Indian Wells, Calif., in April.
Navarro plans to go to college, and for good reason. As an eighth-grader, she recorded all A’s on her report card, except for one pesky B. That academic excellence, combined with her tennis skills, will make her a top recruit.
“I definitely like college, and I love Stanford,” Navarro said. “I dream of going to Stanford. I visited campus a few months ago, and it’s really nice. The tennis team is very good. I like that combination. My parents make school a priority.”
Navarro has a national reputation. She is the No. 1 recruit in her age group in the Palmetto State, No. 3 in the Southeast and is a top-10 recruit in the nation.