Emma Navarro has been quietly making a mark on the WTA tour this year. Last month, the 22-year-old American clinched her first WTA 500 title at the Merida Open – a major milestone in her rising career. Since then, though, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Emma. While her recent form hasn’t set the courts on fire, there were sparks of promise in Charleston. She reached the quarterfinals there, showing signs of a comeback, before falling to fellow American Amanda Anisimova. Now, she’s just one win away from another quarterfinal—this time at the prestigious Stuttgart Open. But to get there, she’ll have to go through former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Who will prevail? Let’s find out!

Jelena Ostapenko vs Emma Navarro: Preview

Navarro seems to have found her footing. She came into this tournament as the seventh seed and started strong. In her opening match, she took on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and absolutely breezed through, winning 6-3, 6-0. That kind of dominant performance will definitely give her confidence going into the next round. And while clay might not be her go-to surface, Navarro’s game is versatile enough to adapt.

Let’s take a step back and look at Navarro’s season so far. Her 14-8 win-loss record shows that she’s been solid but not unstoppable. That Merida title is a standout, no doubt, but early exits at big stops like Miami and Indian Wells have balanced things out. Inconsistency has crept in, but the upside is clear—when Navarro finds her rhythm, she’s a real threat.

On the other side of the net, Jelena Ostapenko brings a whole different energy. The Latvian stormed into the finals at Doha earlier this year, knocking out some renowned players along the way—Iga Swiatek, Jasmine Paolini, and Ons Jabeur, to name a few. She eventually lost in the final to Amanda Anisimova, but that run showed just how dangerous she can be when she’s in the zone.

But since Doha, Ostapenko’s results have dipped. She’s had three first-round exits in a row and only managed to win a single match in Charleston before losing to Danielle Collins. Her opener in Stuttgart ended early after her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, retired mid-match. That gave Ostapenko her eighth win of the season, against nine losses. So she’s still looking to tip her season back into the positive column.

Jelena Ostapenko vs Emma Navarro: head-to-head

Up to this point, Navarro and Ostapenko haven’t played each other on tour. That means we’re heading into this one with a clean slate.

Prediction: Emma Navarro in three sets

This matchup feels like a classic case of contrast in styles. Navarro is all about consistency, smart shot selection, and constructing points. She’s quick on her feet, reads the game well, and thrives in longer rallies. She’ll be hoping to do exactly that—drag Ostapenko into extended exchanges and wait for the errors to come.

Ostapenko, on the other hand, is a shotmaker through and through. She hits flat, hard, and with zero hesitation. That aggressive style can be lethal when it’s working, but also risky. On slower clay courts, that kind of flat hitting doesn’t always pay off. Timing and control become crucial, and that’s where things can get shaky.

So what should we expect?. Navarro’s tactical approach will be tested by Ostapenko’s firepower, and vice versa. The American’s clay-court IQ and recent form give her a slight edge. It would be a tight battle, but Navarro should take it in three sets.