American tennis player Emma Navarro has pulled out of the Charleston Open, a tournament owned by her father Ben Navarro, citing ongoing health struggles. The 24-year-old expressed disappointment in a statement, noting the event's personal significance. She hopes to return to the court in the coming weeks.
Emma Navarro, who has faced a challenging start to the 2026 season, announced her withdrawal from the Credit One Charleston Open, set to begin on March 30. The tournament holds special meaning for the 24-year-old American, as it is owned by her billionaire father, Ben Navarro. In a statement shared on March 26, the official Charleston Open Twitter account expressed support, saying, “Wishing Emma well. We’ll miss her in Charleston this year.💜” Navarro echoed this sentiment, stating, “I’m super disappointed to not be playing the Charleston Open this year. The tournament means so much to me, and I never take for granted the opportunity to play at home in front of my family, friends, and the Charleston community, whose support is overwhelming and unconditional.” She attributed her decision to persistent health problems, adding, “Unfortunately, I have been dealing with some health struggles over the past year or so that I am continuing to sort out. I am working closely with my doctors and team to feel the best I can, but I just need a bit more time to do so. I feel optimistic that I’ll be back on court soon in the coming weeks, and I’m already looking forward to competing in Charleston next year!” Navarro has competed at the event six times previously, reaching the quarterfinals in 2025 before losing to Amanda Anisimova. Her 2026 form has been poor, marked by first-round exits at the Australian Open to Magda Linette, the Merida Open as defending champion to Zhang Shuai, Indian Wells to Sonay Kartal, and a WTA 125 event in Austin to Lulu Sun. She also suffered early defeats in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai, ASB Classic, though she reached the quarterfinals in Adelaide. These results have dropped her ranking from No. 15 at the end of 2025 to No. 27.
