"1st point we won" - Emma Navarro chronicles hilarious day out in Beijing; dances with strangers, challenges ping pong professionals before China Open

Emma Navarro, in Beijing right now preparing for the 2024 China Open, recently spent some time in one of the sprawling city's parks. From trying her hand at pulling off new dance moves to playing outdoor table tennis against the professionals, the 2024 US Open semifinalist cheerfully immersed herself in several new experiences during her time there.

Navarro is the No. 6 seed at the WTA 1000 event in the Chinese capital, and is due to begin her campaign there on Thursday, September 26. The American has received a first-round bye, and will face either Zhang Shuai or Mccartney Kessler in the second round.

Before her opening encounter at the prestigious tournament, Emma Navarro paid a recreational visit to one of Beijing's parks. There, she tried her hand at some outdoor table tennis against pros. The 23-year-old shared a video of her playing doubles via her Instagram Story and captioned it:

"Ping pong in the park vs some professionals"

Navarro playing table tennis at a Beijing park (Source: Instagram/Emma Navarro)

Navarro's next post featured her apparently winning her first point with her doubles table tennis partner.

Navarro after winning her first point in doubles table tennis at a Beijing park (Source: Instagram/Emma Navarro)

Later, the 23-year-old joined a dance class. Navarro claimed via her Instagram Story that she had managed to pick up some new steps.

"Learned some new moves too," Navarro captioned the post.

Navarro shakes a leg during her time as the part of a dance class in the park (Source: Emma Navarro/Instagram)

Last but not least, Navarro shared yet another moment from the dance class, admitting that she took part in whatever class she saw was going on in the park during her visit.

"Kinda just joined all the classes in the park," Navarro wrote.

Another moment from Navarro's participation in a dance class in the Beijing park (Source: Instagram/Emma Navarro)

Navarro would be hopeful of continuing her meteoric rise on the WTA Tour in Beijing. The 23-year-old began the year ranked World No. 38, but quickly made her way up the rankings, and now finds herself ranked No. 8 in the world.

Emma Navarro has gone from strength to strength so far in the ongoing 2024 tennis season

Emma Navarro (Source: Getty)

Navarro made back-to-back semifinals at the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Hobart International to start her year. She would go on to win her maiden WTA Tour-level title in Hobart.

The 23-year-old also reached the third round of the Australian Open, which propelled her into the WTA top 25. More impressive performances followed at the San Diego Open and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. In the latter, she reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal after upsetting World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. This earned her a spot in the top 20.

A maiden fourth-round appearance at the Major came shortly after at the French Open, and she went a step further at the Wimbledon Championships, where she reached her first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal. During the North American hardcourt summer swing, Navarro reached the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto and the Monterrey Open.

However, her best result of the season so far came at the US Open, as she made it to the semifinals, notably after ousting defending champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round. This particular victory ensured that Navarro would break into the WTA top 10 for the first time in her career. In the semifinals though, eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka proved a bit too hot for Navarro to handle.