US tennis star Navarro reveals health battle, ends season

American tennis star Emma Navarro disclosed on Wednesday that she has been grappling with three years of health challenges while excelling on the court. The 24th-ranked player announced her decision to skip the rest of the 2026 season to focus on her recovery. In an emotional Instagram post, Navarro revealed her battle with RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport) and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.

The three-time WTA tournament champion won her fourth Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open this month, but her dizziness and headaches from under-fueling her body only subsided a few months ago. Navarro stated that she felt capable of playing tennis as herself again, competing without it taking a toll on her.

Diagnosed last year, Navarro had been under-fueling her body for years, which led to her body fighting back. Over the past year, she has been dedicated to addressing her health issues. Despite gaining some weight during this recovery process, Navarro believes she has regained her life. She expressed feeling more energetic and able to train and compete at her best, allowing her to live a life beyond tennis.