Sports

Navarro blasts opponent Zheng after Olympic loss: 'I didn't respect her as a competitor'

Published

1 year ago

July 31, 2024

Navarro blasts opponent Zheng after Olympic loss: 'I didn't respect her as a competitor'

Emma Navarro didn’t want to be on the losing end of a tight three-set match at her first Olympic Games. Losing 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1 to China’s Qinwen Zheng in the third round Tuesday meant Navarro’s Paris 2024 singles tournament was over.

Instead of just the customary handshake after each match between opponents, Navarro took it a step further. The 23-year-old American grasped Zheng’s hand and locked eyes with her. Navarro spoke to Zheng in a tense exchange at the net, with Navarro shaking her head in frustration as the players walked to thank the chair umpire.

Navarro didn’t mince words when later asked about the conversation.

“I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said after the match. “I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way. It makes for a locker room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect. But, kudos to her, she played some good tennis there at the end. She played better than me, so congrats to her.”

Navarro didn’t address why she made these comments and what about Zheng makes her “cut-throat” in the American’s opinion. Zheng admitted that Navarro told her “she doesn’t know how I have a lot of fans.”

“It looks like she’s not happy with my behavior towards her,” Zheng said.

But Zheng didn’t retaliate with criticism. Instead, Zheng said that she didn’t consider Navarro’s words “an attack” because the American lost the match.

“If she’s not happy about my behavior, she can come and tell me,” Zheng said. “I would like to correct (it) to become a better player and a better person.”

(Photo of Qinwen Zheng: Tnani Badreddine / DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Tuesday’s encounter was the second match between Navarro and Zheng. Playing in balmy conditions on a packed Court Seven at Roland Garros, Navarro roared back in the first set down 3-5 to force a tiebreaker. Zheng took a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker only for Navarro to rally again, saving four set points en route to winning 9-7.

In the second set, Navarro, up 5-3 and serving for the match, had a match point. An opportunity to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals was in Navarro’s grasp. But Navarro recorded a forehand unforced error. Zheng took advantage, breaking to stay alive. In the next game, Zheng held serve and suddenly, the second set was all square at 5-5.

Zheng was never fazed in the second-set tiebreaker. At 2-2, Zheng rattled off three in a row points, taking control of the tiebreaker. At set point 6-4, Zheng blasted a forehand winner, forcing a third and decisive set.

At this point, the Chinese fans in attendance roared in support of Zheng. The third set saw Zheng tally 13 service winners, record a 79 percent first serve and win all of her net points (4 for 4). Zheng broke Navarro three times. The American never faced a break point opportunity.

GO DEEPER

Coco Gauff loses to Donna Vekic at Olympics after line call controversy

Zheng praised the Chinese crowd support that guided her to victory.

“It’s so special because I don’t fight for myself,” Zheng said. “I fight for China. There were so many (in the) crowd cheering for me. … I feel very cheered up.”

It’s been a year of career feats for both Zheng and Navarro. Zheng reached her first slam final in January at the Australian Open and a new career-high ranking of world No. 7. Navarro, the 2021 NCAA singles champion with Virginia, won her first WTA tournament at Hobart International and reached her first slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon.

After over three hours, up 5-1 in the final set, Zheng had her fourth match point opportunity. Navarro’s backhand sailed wide, giving Zheng the win.

Zheng raised her arms high, let out a scream and pumped her left fist. Navarro admitted there were emotions coming off the court, the toll of not being able to close it out at match point and playing for three-plus hours.

She’ll now have to wait four years before her next potential Olympic moment.

Zheng’s Olympic dream of winning a medal continues. She will play three-time slam winner Angelique Kerber, who is playing in her final professional tournament.

Required reading

(Photo: Tnani Badreddine / DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Sports

Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

Published

10 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The chaos between LSU coaches who left Ole Miss alongside Lane Kiffin but are still coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff is certainly a whirlwind.

Joe Judge, Ole Miss’ quarterbacks coach, has found himself in the thick of the drama — while he is not headed for Baton Rouge, he’s had to wonder who he will be working with on a weekly basis.

When asked this week about what it’s like to go through all the trials and tribulations, Judge turned heads with his answer that evoked his New England Patriots days.

Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Aug. 22, 2013. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

“My next-door neighbor was Aaron Hernandez,” Judge said, according to CBS Sports. “I know this is still more chaotic.”

Hernandez was found guilty of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, which occurred just three years into his NFL career.

“If you watch those documentaries, my house is on the TV next door,” Judge added. “The detectives knocked on my door to find out where he was. I didn’t know. We just kind of talked to the organization. But it was obviously chaotic.”

Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of semipro football player Odin Lloyd. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

FROM MR IRRELEVANT TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BROCK PURDY WANTS TO USE HIS LIFESTYLE FOR GOOD

Judge, though, was able to compare the two situations to see how players can combat wild distractions.

“Those players that year handled that extremely well. Came out of that chaos, and we had some really good direction inside with some veterans and some different guys. You have something like that happen — how do you handle something like that? How do you deal with something like that? So you keep the focus on what you can handle, what you can control, which at that time was football for us, and we went through the stretch, and we were able to have success that year,” Judge said.

Judge also compared this scenario to the 2020 NFL season when he was head coach of the New York Giants, saying he would have “no idea” who would be available due to surprise positive COVID-19 tests.

Head coach Joe Judge of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The game took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Rebels face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the College Football Playoff Semifinal, on Thursday night.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sports

Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

Published

10 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

Calabasas pulled off a huge win in high school basketball on Tuesday night, handing Thousand Oaks its first defeat after 16 victories in a Marmonte League opener.

The Coyotes (13-5) have quietly turned around their season after a 2-4 start, winning 11 of their last 12 games.

One of the major contributors has been 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnny Thyfault, who’s averaging 16 points and has become a fan favorite because of his dunking skills. He also leads the team in taking charging fouls.

He transferred to Calabasas after his freshman year at Viewpoint.

As for beating Thousand Oaks, coach Jon Palarz said, “We got to play them at home and had great effort.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Sports

Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

Published

22 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.

The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal.

Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.

There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.

It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.

LEBRON JAMES DECLARES HIMSELF ‘TBD’ FOR BACK-TO-BACK GAMES FOR REST OF SEASON: ‘I’M 41′

However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.

Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.

Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.

Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.

Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.