Emma Navarro Stuns No. 2 Seed Maria Sakkari in DC Open

American rising star Emma Navarro pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating second seed Maria Sakkari in straight sets, 7–5, 7–6(7), in the second round of the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington.

The upset marks a major breakthrough for Navarro, who showcased nerves of steel and relentless shot-making to outplay the experienced Greek in a match that lasted just over two hours. Sakkari, known for her athleticism and grit, struggled to find rhythm throughout the contest as Navarro kept applying pressure with deep groundstrokes and a composed baseline game.

“It’s definitely one of the biggest wins of my career,” said Navarro after the match.

“Maria is such a great competitor, and I had to stay focused from the first point to the last.”

The opening set saw both players trading breaks early before Navarro took control in the final games to seal it 7–5. The second set was even more tightly contested, going into a tiebreak where Navarro held her nerve and closed out the match on her second match point.

For Sakkari, the loss continues a pattern of early-round exits in key tournaments this season, raising questions about her form heading into the North American hard court swing.

Navarro, meanwhile, is building momentum quickly in 2025. The 23-year-old has been climbing the WTA rankings with consistent results and now adds a top-tier scalp to her résumé — her first career win over a top-10 opponent.

She now advances to the third round in Washington, where she will look to continue her strong run and capitalize on the open draw left behind by Sakkari’s exit.