Billionaire’s Wimbledon run comes to an end with biggest prize money haul

Emma Navarro’s wonderful run at Wimbledon has been ended in the quarter-finals.

The 23-year-old saw off favourite and fellow American Coco Gauff in straight sets on Sunday to land a spot in her first ever Grand Slam last eight.

However, she was then thrashed by Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-1 to miss out on a place in the final four.

It also means she will have banked £375,000 for reaching the quarter-finals, however that would have jumped to £715,000 if she reached the semi-final.

Money, though, may be the last thing on Navarro’s mind due in part to her incredible pre-existing wealth.

The New York native is the daughter of wealthy American billionaire investment tycoon, Ben Navarro, whom Forbes estimates to have a net worth of $1.5bn.

Navarro Sr specialises in credit cards and debt collection through Sherman Financial Group, which he founded in 1998. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Forbes say he has spent more than $350m on property in the area, which includes the stadium where his daughter made her WTA debut. He also bought the Western & Southern Open in 2022.

Despite the incredible riches, Navarro worked tirelessly perfecting her craft throughout college before professional where she was granted a wild card for the US Open in 2021.

With almost £800,000 banked in prize money this season and a guarantee of £375,000 from her Wimbledon heroics, Navarro is staking her claim to become the next great hope in US women’s tennis.

It is already her biggest single haul at a Grand Slam, following the £356,000 she took home from making the French Open quarter-final earlier this year.

Following the win over Gauff, Navarro showed no signs of nerves despite being in unfamiliar territory.

“I don’t have a ton of words but just really grateful to be out here on Centre Court at a tournament with so much history and tradition, that so many legends have played on before me,” she said. “It’s a real honour. I can’t wait to play again.”

She will link up with Gauff at the Olympics. “I’m super excited to be on the same Olympic team with her,” Gauff added. “She’s a very, very nice person. Her family is nice.

“So I’m very excited to be able to play against her and then play on the same team as her in the Olympics.”

Those close to the billionaire, her recent rise to superstardom has been brewing for some time.

She reached the third round of the Australian Open in January before progressing to the fourth round at the French Open.

Her form on the WTA Tour has improved tenfold with 33 wins this season – over double the amount she won last year.

Navarro tasted victory for the first time, picking up her first WTA title at the Hobart International earlier this year.

Her exploits has seen her rise from 149th in the world to world No.17 in what has been a staggering upturn.

She is currently set to rise to 14th in the world next week.