WTA roundup: Emma Navarro upended in Auckland

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Mon 5th January, 11:27 2026
Tennis: US OpenAug 29, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Emma Navarro of the United States serves against Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic in the third round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Britain's Francesca Jones opened the year with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 upset of No. 2 seed Emma Navarro on Monday at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ranked No. 72 in the world, Jones saved six of 12 break points in the two-hour, 23-minute triumph. She will take on Austria's Sinja Kraus in the second round.

Other than No. 3 seed Iva Jovic's 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 win against Czech Gabriela Knutson, it was a rough day for the U.S. contingent. Also ousted were No. 8 seed Peyton Stearns, Sloane Stephens, Caty McNally and Whitney Osuigwe.

Spain's Kaitlin Quevedo, 19, scored the 6-2, 7-5 win against Stearns. Also advancing were No. 7 seed Xinyu Wang of China, Mexico's Renata Zarazua, Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic and Sofia Costoulas of Belgium.


Brisbane International

Home favorite Kimberly Birrell outlasted Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in first-round action on Monday in Australia.

Birrell saved five of eight break points and overcame six double faults in the two-hour, 16-minute match, setting up a second-round clash with No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova.

Fellow Australian Olivia Gadecki had an easier time in a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Ann Li. She will face No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the next round

Poland's Magdalena Frech, Spain's Cristina Bucsa and China's Shuai Zhang also survived three-setters, while Great Britain's Emerson Jones, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska, Russians Anna Kalinskaya and Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan won their openers in straight sets.


--Field Level Media

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