Emma Navarro advanced to the semifinals of the Strasbourg Open after a quarterfinal victory over veteran Chinese player Shuai Zhang.
The American will now face compatriot Ann Li in an all-American semifinal, as she pursues her third career WTA title and first on clay.
Navarro entered the match with an 0-3 head-to-head record against Zhang, though all previous meetings were on hard courts.
She used her all-court game and clean ball-striking to overcome the 37-year-old, who had reached her first clay quarterfinal since Palermo 2021.
Earlier in the tournament, Navarro defeated Abu Dhabi Open champion Sara Bejlek and Iva Jovic. The win over third-seeded Jovic boosted her confidence after recent struggles.
Navarro faced health issues earlier in 2026, forcing her withdrawal from the Charleston Open.
She worked with medical professionals to plan her return, keeping details private amid online speculation.
The Strasbourg Open serves as preparation for the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros.
In other quarterfinals, Marie Bouzkova played Ann Li, Daria Kasatkina faced Jaqueline Cristian, and Leylah Fernandez competed against Victoria Mboko.
