Emma Navarro is back into the third round of the US Open after beating her compatriot Caty McNally.
Navarro had lost five of her last six matches coming into the US Open this year, and was a potential contender for an early upset.
Last year was a breakout season for the American, including Navarro reaching the US Open semifinals.
As a result, Navarro has many ranking points to defend and former world number one Andy Roddick has noticed something different about the world number 11 in her second round match.
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesAndy Roddick explains what has changed about Emma Navarro at the US Open this year
Navarro had to battle through her first round match against Yafan Wang, where she saved a set point in the first set.
However, the American’s second round match against her in-form compatriot was much more convincing, with Navarro beating McNally 6-2 6-1.
When discussing the match on his podcast, the aforementioned Roddick suggested that Navarro appeared to have shrugged off any nerves that he noticed in her first round match.
“Emma Navarro comes into this tournament having won one match since Wimbledon,” said Roddick. “We were watching her first round match the other day and it was nervy.
“It was one of those ones where it was like I don’t have form, I might be second guessing. When you are playing well, you are in this flow state where all you are thinking about is strategy, not strokes and how the ball is coming off.
“When you are worrying about how the ball is coming off and if you can execute at 4-4 in the breaker, that is what Emma looked like in the first round.
“She did not look that way against Caty McNally. One and two, rolled. There’s a few times this year where she has been in complete flow state. She had it today. She had control of that ball, various heights on the forehand, getting it up and out of the zone and then penetrating with the backhand.
“Emma Navarro, if we look back and she makes the quarters or the semis, we will be like she turned it in that match against McNally. She looked great today.”
What happened when Emma Navarro last played Barbora Krejcikova?
Navarro will now move on to the third round of the US Open, where she will play her toughest opposition yet in two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, who knocked Victoria Mboko out in the first round.
This is the second consecutive Grand Slam tournament that Navarro has played Krejcikova, and she will be hoping for a similar outcome to Wimbledon.
At Wimbledon last month, Navarro came from a set down to beat Krejcikova, 2-6 6-3 6-4.
However, Krejcikova was clearly injured during this match and appears to be back to fitness in New York.
The third round US Open match between Navarro and Krejcikova will take place on Friday, August 29.