3 women NCAA champions still in the running for Wimbledon 2024 title ahead of quarterfinals ft. Danielle Collins

The last leg of the Round of 16 matches is underway at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships before the quarterfinals commence on Tuesday, July 9. The women's side saw some of the biggest upsets after Iga Swiatek's third-round exit and Emma Navarro ousting second seed Coco Gauff.

Navarro is one of the three women National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) champions who have made it to the fourth round at this year's Major.

The NCAA regulates college student athletes' affairs in schools in the US and Canada. It has nurtured young tennis talents who have gone on to great heights after turning pro including the legendary Arthur Ashe and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe.

Thus, as the British Slam progresses, here's a look at three women NCAA champions still in contention for the title at SW19.

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3 women NCAA champions still in the running at Wimbledon 2024

#1 Emma Navarro

Emma Navarro is the 2019 French Open Junior Doubles champion and the 2021 NCAA Singles champion. She turned pro in 2022 and claimed her maiden and only WTA trophy so far at the 2024 Hobart International.

After overcoming Wang Qiang in the opening round at Wimbledon, Navarro caught everyone's attention with a spectacular straight-sets victory over 4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. She next edged out Diana Shnaider before stunning World No. 2 Coco Gauff in the fourth round.

Navarro's latest win puts the top three rankings on the women's side out of the running, with Aryna Sabalenka's withdrawal due to injury and Iga Swiatek's shocking defeat by Yulia Putintseva in the third round.

Navarro will next encounter this year's French Open finalist and 7th seed Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals.

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#2 Danielle Collins

Danielle Collins played collegiate tennis at the University of Virgina and clinched the NCAA Singles title in 2014 and 2016. She turned pro in 2016 and won her maiden title at the 2021 WTA Palermo.

She had an impressive 2022 season as the runner up at the Australian Open, losing the trophy to Ashleigh Barty. Her run at the Happy Slam that year put her in the Top 10 for the first time.

This season, the World No. 11 is in her finest form with the Miami and Charleston Open titles to her name.

At this year's grasscourt Slam, Collins defeated Clara Tauson and Dalma Galfi in the first and second rounds, respectively. She then ousted 20th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia to set up a fourth-round encounter with Barbora Krejcikova scheduled for today (July 8).

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#Lulu Sun

Lulu Sun was born in New Zealand and her family shifted to Switzerland when she was five. She came to the US for higher studies and led the Texas Longhorns to the 2021 National Championship title.

Sun has dual nationality and holds both New Zealand and Swiss passports. At the 2024 ASB Classic Auckland, Sun made a decision to play under the flag of her birth country, New Zealand.

Sun went through the grind of the qualifier before making her debut in the main draw at Wimbledon. She overcame her opening-round hurdle with a hard-fought win against this year's Australian Open finalist Qinwin Zheng. She then ousted Yulia Starodubtsewa and Zhu Lin in the second and third rounds, respectively, before her fourth-round encounter against Emma Raducanu.

In her match against the agressive player, Sun was relentless as she broke the Briton's serve 5 times. The dramatic 3-set battle lasted 2 hours and 50 minutes. Sun ultimately registered a stunning 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory against the 2021 US Open champion.

In an interview after her win, an emotional Sun was understandably at a loss for words.

“Oh, man, it was a great match against her. I really had to fight tooth and nail against her. I’m just incredibly (…) I don’t even have the words right now,” Sun said.

The win makes Sun the 7th qualifier to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. She will next face Donna Vekic for a potential spot in the semis.