Emma Navarro thwarts Peyton Stearns in 3:20 comeback, third longest match of 2025 at Australian Open

Let’s do the time warp again: Emma Navarro clinched a three hour, 20-minute comeback over Peyton Stearns to win the third-longest match of 2025, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5. The match fell three minutes short of the current longest match of the season, a 3:22 three-setter between Gao Xinyu and Beatriz Haddad Maia at United Cup earlier this month.

Seeded No. 8, Navarro trailed her countrywoman 3-5 in the final set but won the final four games to cap off a grueling first match on Rod Laver Arena.

“I looked at the clock when it said two and a half hours in and I was kind of surprised,” Navarro said on court. “We’re kind of in a time warp out here. But yeah, crazy match today. I just kept telling myself to make the most of what I have today, and that’s what I was able to do.”

Navarro is coming off a stellar 2024 season, one that saw her make the third round or better at all four major tournaments, capping the year with a maiden major semifinal at the US Open and a Top 10 debut.

Looking to back up a breakthrough is never easy but Navarro appears up to the test, showing immense physical resilience as Stearns, who is also 23 years old, faded in the final stretch of the match.

“I was just trying to make the most of the skills I had today,” Navarro repeated. “Maybe it wasn’t my best but she put up a really great fight. Obviously, we were out here for over three hours, but I’m just really happy to get the win and I can’t wait to come back out here in a couple days.”

The American will look for a more straightforward second round match against Chinese lefty Wang Xiyu, but their last match came at last year’s Australian Open, and also required a 7-5 final set.

“I’ll try to put my feet up a bit, sleep a lot, eat well, talk to my coach and figure out a game plan,” Navarro teased of her recovery. “Hopefully I’ll feel good in a couple days.”