Emma Navarro triumphed in the women’s singles match at the 2024 Garden Cup on December 4, defeating Jessica Pegula 7-6, 6-4 in a thrilling encounter. The match, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, marked the return of the exhibition event after a six-year hiatus. Navarro, who had a standout 2024 season, continued her strong form following a semifinal finish at the 2024 US Open.
Navarro started the match strong, claiming the first set via a tiebreaker. Throughout the set, she interacted with the crowd, even jokingly accusing a fan who was cheering for Pegula of “rigging” the match. In a fun moment, she quipped that the fan’s support for Pegula was “a little cheap,” adding a humorous touch to the match.
In the second set, Navarro maintained her focus and defeated Pegula in straight sets to win the match. The victory was a fitting highlight to Navarro’s breakthrough year, during which she reached her career-high World No. 8 ranking. This was thanks to a series of strong performances, including winning her first tour-level title at the Hobart International and a semifinal finish at the US Open.
Navarro’s win at the Garden Cup further solidified her status as one of the top players on the WTA Tour, following a year full of milestones and career-best performances.
