“I think I can win”

Paula Badosa collapsed and Emma Navarro took advantage.

Navarro, the No. 13 seed and former NCAA singles champion at the University of Virginia, came back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to beat No. 26 Badosa, 6-2, 7-5, to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open.

In Thursday’s semifinal, she will face No. 2 seed and tournament favorite Aryna Sabalenka, who knocked off No. 7 seed and Olympic gold medalist Qinwin Zheng 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday night.

“I think deep down I believe (I can win),” Navarro, who lost in the first round a year ago, told ESPN’s Nick Kyrgios after beating defending champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round.

“Yes, I think I can win.”

Navarro is 1-1 against Sabalenka.

“I’ll be up for the challenge whether it’s against either one of them,” she told ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs on court before Sabalenka’s match. “They’re both big servers, big hitters. I think they’re going to come at me aggressively no matter what the matchup is, but yeah, I’ll be up for it.”

Navarro, 23, will win $1 million for reaching the semifinals. The champion will receive $3.6 million and the runner-up $1.8 million.

Navarro, born in New York, is the daughter of billionaire Ben Navarro, owner of the Charleston, Cincinnati and Monterey tennis tournaments.

“I want to thank my dad who had a vision from a young age,” Navarro told ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs. “He knew I might have had a little ADHD to sit in a classroom or an office from 9 to 5, and I think he saw something in me from a young age, so thank you, Dad, for sending me on this journey.”

Badosa led 5-1 and served for the second set at 5-2 but let go and Navarro broke for 3-5.

“After coming back to 5-2, I had a little feeling that it might be two sets and I just wanted to stay really strong and hold on. Even if I lost the second set, I wanted to set the tone for the third set,” Navarro said. “So I’m really happy with my performance today.”

“It’s crazy to be in the semifinals. The US Open, baby.”

Navarro won 12 of 13 points to move back to 4-5 on his serve as Badosa collapsed.

“She completely lost her rhythm on every shot, serve, forehand and backhand, out of nowhere,” ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs said on air.

Badosa then committed two double faults and was broken at 5-5.

Serving at 5-6, 30 all, Badosa sent a forehand into the net, bringing Navarro to match point.

“I just want to be able to win this match in two sets,” Navarro said.

On match point, Navarro won it with a drop shot and then raised his hands in celebration before meeting Badosa at the net.

Navarro won the last six games of the match.

“Nervousness cost her the match,” 18-time major champion Chrissie Evert said on air.

Now, Navarro is full of confidence and believes she can beat anyone.

“I’m at a point in my career where I’m not afraid of any result or any success in any tournament,” she said.