Emma Navarro had been in the spotlight at the US Open 2026 for her stellar show, but her tennis journey began long before she became a professional player. The American star grew up with strong support from her parents, Kelly and Ben Navarro. Her family played an important role in helping her develop her tennis skills.
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Navarro was born in New York City in 2001. She started taking tennis seriously in childhood. She later starred for the University of Virginia before turning professional. As of September 2026, she is ranked No. 27 in the world by the WTA. Her parents have remained among her biggest supporters throughout her career.
Who are Emma Navarro’s parents?
Emma Navarro’s parents are Kelly Navarro and Ben Navarro. The couple raised Emma and her three siblings, Meggie, Earl and Owen, in Charleston, South Carolina. While Ben has built a major business empire, Kelly has largely focused on her family and their shared business interests.
Ben Navarro is a billionaire businessman and the founder and CEO of Sherman Financial Group. He owns a significant minority stake in Credit One Bank. It is a major credit card issuer. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at around $3.2 billion as of September 2026.
Ben started Sherman Financial Group with Brett Hildebrand in 1997. Before that, he worked at Goldman Sachs and Citicorp. He also explored a bid to buy the Carolina Panthers in 2018. David Tepper eventually purchased the NFL team.
Ben and Kelly are also the co-founders of Beemok, a company launched in 2018 to manage their business and non-profit interests. Its portfolio includes Credit One Bank, hospitality businesses and sports properties.
The family has strong links with tennis. Through Beemok, Ben bought Charleston Tennis LLC, the owner of the Charleston Open, in 2019. In 2022, he also purchased the Western & Southern Open, now known as the Cincinnati Open, in a deal reportedly worth more than $300 million.
Who is Emma Navarro’s mother?
Kelly Navarro has maintained a lower public profile. She graduated from the University of Virginia and worked in real estate finance for 10 years before becoming a full-time mother. She later took an active role at Beemok and serves as its VP of Strategy and Design.
Emma grew up alongside her siblings in South Carolina. Her sister Meggie also followed the family’s tennis connection and played tennis at the University of Virginia.
Tennis became a serious part of Emma’s life during her school years. She recalled waking up at around 5:45 a.m. to practise for an hour before school. Her parents were regular supporters at her matches.
Ben has also influenced Emma’s approach to tennis and life. She credits him for teaching her perspective, toughness and discipline.
Despite her father’s wealth, Emma has said she did not grow up being handed everything. She has also made it clear that she does not want to be defined only by her family’s fortune. That upbringing included early-morning tennis sessions and a strong focus on hard work.
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