Questions have regularly been raised about Raducanu’s resilience and the manner of this gutsy victory will quieten many of her doubters.
It has been a challenging start to the season because of injury, a traumatic stalking experience and needing to find a new coach.
Now ranked 60th in the world, she matched Navarro in a tight start before her intensity dropped in the second set.
Raducanu received treatment on a foot injury before the deciding set and, when she faced more break points at 3-1 down, it seemed like her American opponent would quickly wrap up victory.
But the 2021 US Open champion clung on to her serve and played more aggressively as Navarro became edgy.
Raducanu won four games in a row to serve for the match at 5-3 – then was broken again after huge errors with a backhand drive into the net and a double fault.
The way in which she reset again after losing three successive games – and dominated again with quality returning – was impressive.
Raducanu sealed victory with a ripping forehand winner on her second match point, breaking into a beaming smile and clasping the peak of her hat in shock.
“I have no idea how I won that match to be honest,” she added with a laugh in her on-court interview.
“I don’t know what happened – it was a match full of ups and downs and full of momentum. It was unbelievable – we were both fighting so hard.”
