Start time: 12:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 a.m. PT; TV: ESPN, tennis channel

How different two tennis seasons can be before ending in the same place. When Paula Badosa traveled to Indian Wells, California, in March, she was battling persistent back problems. Doctors told her that treating this injury would make it “very complicated” to continue her career.

In desperation, the doctors and Badosa tried cortisone injections. Four months later, at Wimbledon, she cried tears of joy because she was in the round of 16 for the first time in three years. Here in New York, she did even better.

For Emma Navarro, another season of smooth progress was in a completely different league when she faced Coco Gauff at Wimbledon in July. Navarro took advantage of Gauff’s weaknesses and knocked her out.

On Sunday, she did it again, in the stadium where Gauff cemented her position at the top of American tennis 12 months ago. Navarro will climb into the world’s top 10 after this tournament and has the potential to climb even higher.

Solidity is the hallmark of her game, but her forehand is as devastating and beautiful as it gets. Badosa has the slightly more explosive power, but if Navarro can effectively redirect the pace of Badosa’s shots, she could well be on her way to her first Grand Slam semifinal.