In distinction to Sabalenka, Navarro had solely gained one match on the principal stage of a Grand Slam earlier than this yr – however she has acquired higher and higher in a breakout 2024.
She reached the third spherical of the Australian Open, the final 16 on the French Open, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and now the semi-finals of her house Slam.
Navarro ended Gauff’s title defence within the fourth spherical right here – having crushed her at Wimbledon in July – and was simply as spectacular in seeing off Badosa.
Badosa produced two double-faults in her first service sport to assist Navarro take an early benefit, and likewise gifted two extra double-faults within the eighth sport because the American eased to the opening set.
Nonetheless, Badosa fought again and seemed in management with a double break benefit within the second set.
She twice served for the set, however, at occasions trying on the verge of tears, the twenty sixth seed’s sport fell aside, with Navarro clinching six video games in a row to progress.
Navarro, who was born in New York, thanked her father, Ben, a billionaire businessman who inspired her to take up the game, in her post-match interview.
“I need to say because of my dad as a result of he noticed a imaginative and prescient from once I was actually younger,” Navarro stated.
“He knew possibly I used to be somewhat bit ADHD or one thing to be sat in a classroom or in a 9-5 and I believe he noticed one thing in me from a younger age.
“Thanks dad for sending me on this journey.”
Badosa had additionally been bidding for a primary Grand Slam semi-final look, simply months after virtually quitting the game due to a long-term again downside.
The previous world quantity two admitted she was a “full catastrophe” after her second-set collapse left her feeling like “an ant”.
“I by no means had the momentum. It was 5-1, however I by no means felt myself,” stated Badosa, taking part in in her first quarter-final within the metropolis the place she was born.
“Dropping a set from 5-1 up, I by no means did that earlier than. I misplaced 20 factors virtually in a row – it is very bizarre.”