2024 Olympics: What USA Tennis' Emma Navarro Told “Cut-Throat” Opponent Zheng Qinwen in Heated Exchange

Emma Navarro served strong words at the 2024 Olympics. 

After losing the match to reach the women's tennis singles quarter-finals July 30, the USA player held nothing back when exchanging words with her winning opponent, China's Zheng Qwinwen, during their game-concluding handshake. 

Following the three-hour game in Paris, Emma could be seen shaking her head as she spoke over the net to Zheng, who responded with a few curt nods. And the athletes continued their heated discussion as they made their way to the referee's chair to shake his hand as well. 

Describing the tense interaction in a press conference that followed, Emma recalled, per Yahoo! Sport, "I just told her I didn't respect her as a competitor."

"I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way," she continued. "It makes for a locker room that doesn't have a lot of camaraderie, so it's tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don't respect."

But while she may not be a fan of Zheng's sportsmanship, Emma had positive things to say about her game on the court. 

"Kudos to her, she played some good tennis there at the end," the 23-year-old said. "She played better than me, so congrats to her."

As for Zheng? The 21-year-old—who is one of two Chinese players to reach the last 16 of the women's singles competitors—admitted to receiving some feedback during the conversation, recounting that Emma told her that "she doesn't know how I have a lot of fans."

But Zheng—who will face off against Germany's Angelique Kerber for a place in the semi-finals next—is taking her opponent's remarks in stride. 

"If she's not happy about my behavior, she can come and tell me," she explained, per Yahoo!. "I would like to correct it to become a better player and a better person."

Noting that she was "glad" Emma was honest with her, Zheng added, "I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match."

Keep reading for more emotion-filled moments from the 2024 Olympics. 

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Jasmine Paolini reacts during her match with Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. She lost the match, exiting the games. 

Serbian sports shooter Zorana Arunovic kisses her gold medal—her first time medaling in the sport after competing in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. 

Kazuma Kaya and the rest of Team Japan celebrate after earning a gold medal for the artistic gymnastics men's team final. They were followed by Team China with silver, and Team USA with bronze. 

Adam Burgess of Great Britain celebrates after completing his event. His team took home a silver and bronze medal for canoe slalom, a sport that sees competitors navigate a whitewater course. 

Asher Hong of Team USA celebrates after completing the vault at the men's team final. He placed 9th in his event, and helped earn the Team USA men's gymnastics team a bronze medal. 

French fencer Manon Apithy-Brunet reacts after beating South Korea's Choi Se-bin in the women's semifinal bout. 

Serbia's Novak Djokovic holds up his racket in celebration after defeating Rafael Nadal of Spain in a second round match of the Men's Singles tournament. 

Ezinne Kalu and the rest of Team Nigeria celebrate their win against Team Australia. 

Stephen Nedoroscik, an Internet meme for his pommel horse performance, celebrates during his team's final. 

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Hidayat Heydarov of Team Azerbaijan proudly holds up his gold medal after day three of the Olympic games. 

Pauline Ferrand Prevot tears up after scoring a gold medal for France. 

Team USA's Simone Biles reacts after her exercise on the balance beam at the second of five women's qualfiying sessions, during day two of the Olympics.

Salih Yildiz expresses disappointment after he was defeated by opponent  Luka Mkheidze of France. 

Team USA embraces after winning the first heat of the women's 4x100m Freestyle relay. 

Lukas Maertens (R) of Germany raises his fist in celebration after winning the men's 400m Freestyle event. Meanwhile, Guilherme Costa of Brazil (L) looks defeated after placing fifth. 

The Argentinian rugby player Matteo Graziano following the defeat of his team against France.

Team Spain celebrates after their second goal in their match against Japan. 

 Zambia's Pauline Zulu is walked off the pitch by teammate Hellen Chanda after being presented with a red card during her team's match against Team USA. 

Korea's Kang Kyung-min celebrates a score during a handball game against Germany. 

Japanese soccer player Aoba Fujino after she scores the winning point for her team in a match against Spain. 

Eldor Shomurodov of Uzbekistan and his teammates celebrate their winning goal during men's match against Spain.