Emma Navarro's first stop in Charleston, and more “super niche tennis lessons"

After back-to-back weeks across North America, Emma Navarro is finally in the home stretch. Born in New York but raised in South Carolina, the 23-year-old gearing up for her home tournament, the Credit One Charleston Open.

But first, she has to make a detour.

“Go see my family and my dogs. They’re always my first stop when I get home to Charleston," Navarro tells TENNIS.com. "It’s something that I always look forward to.”

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Navarro is soaking up as much quality family time as possible before the WTA Tour moves on to Europe. The American also is seeking a reset after mixed success in recent weeks, having won her first title of the season in Merida but departing Indian Wells and Miami with just one match win.

The clay-court season kicks off in Charleston, a city with deep family connections for Navarro. She went to school at Ashley Hall in nearby downtown, while her father, Ben Navarro, is not only the WTA tournament’s owner but also the owner of Credit One Bank, the event’s title sponsor.

It was here where she made her 2019 WTA debut as an 18-year-old wildcard, falling in straight sets to Laura Siegemund. Navarro then opted to go to college, and would go on to play tennis for University of Virginia and make a name for herself in becoming the 2022 NCAA champion before joining the pro tour.

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Now the 11th ranked player in the world, Navarro says her rapid rise has been a ‘learning experience’—and the lessons have been a bit unexpected.

“So many super niche tennis lessons, like physical things,” she explained. “Just the things I’m learning about myself and how I have to play, and how other players play…

“Off the court, or in a more philosophical sense, I’ve ‘learned how to lose,’ for sure. I’ve learned how to win, as well, and how to manage stress, travel, and the ups and downs that come with tour life.

“I think I’ve also learned that there’s so much more to learn. I’m buckled up for a lot more lessons along the way.”

Navarro, who has been ranked as high as world No. 8 and owns two WTA titles to her name, is still seeking a strong result in Charleston. She owns a 2-4 record on the green clay, including one round-of-16 appearance.

While the American will be applying all her lessons learned on court at her home tournament, off the court she’s indulging her wanderlust as a way to unwind from the WTA grind.

“On my days off, I prioritize rest for sure. But I also like to get out there and see some things,” Navarro tells me. "I love to walk around different cities and neighborhoods especially, just see how the people live or see the different architecture.

"Things like that make me feel like I’m a little bit in touch with the local people and my surroundings.”

Navarro will start her Charleston campaign on Wednesday at Credit One Stadium, where she will face No. 90 Hailey Baptiste in the second round. Baptiste, a fellow American, overcame Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-4 to advance.

In the meantime, the No. 4 seed shared a few more "super niche tennis lessons"—including how she fights jetlag—with TENNIS.com:

Travel tips from Emma Navarro

1. “Hydration is key. You get super dehydrated when you’re flying, so stay on top of your hydration.”
2. “If you wake up in the middle of the night, or at like two or three a.m. or whatever, don’t fight it. Just accept that you’re awake. You’re probably not going back to sleep. So just relax, but don’t go on your phone and look at screens! Just lay there.”
3. “Get out and exercise, or even just be outside and get some sunlight on your skin. That helps a bunch.”