Emma Navarro continues to bolster her Grand Slam credentials with another showstopping performance at the very highest level.

In this setting, Centre Court, over the net stood resurgent four-time Slam winner Naomi Osaka, but neither of those factors ruffled ‘Ice Girl’ – the affectionate nickname given to the New Yorker by her family.

The ultra-clinical Navarro posted 6-4, 6-1, with just five unforced errors on the statistic tallies, to continue her finest Wimbledon showing to date.

In a breakout season the world No.17 has already won 31 matches and will hope to gain revenge for two recent losses to Diana Shnaider or battle past fellow American Sloane Stephens in the third round.

“Naomi’s obviously a great player, has played some great tennis – it’s great to have her back on tour,” Navarro said following her 58-minute triumph.

“(I) obviously wanted to get the win today, (and) played some really good tennis at times. It’s my first time on Centre Court. It doesn’t really seem to be real.”

The 2021 NCAA collegiate tennis champion warmed up for Wimbledon with a semi-final showing in Bad Homburg, Germany.

“I’ve been having a lot of fun on grass,” the 23-year old said. “It’s kind of been the theme of my time on tour so far, just trying to really enjoy myself – and today was no exception. So I’m just having a lot of fun and it was a really special atmosphere.”

In the first game of the match, Osaka catapulted a forehand return winner down the line during a confident start from the former world No.1.

Navarro’s defensive skills were particularly impressive, scuttling right to left to just about retrieve a blazing Osaka backhand. The No.19 seed then leapt to strike an airborne inside-out forehand winner. This ice-cool customer was excelling in defence and attack.

While Osaka’s power became overbearing, Navarro was simply locked in to claim a 4-3 break lead. The wild card struck a piercing backhand cross court but the eagle-eyed Navarro challenged the crucial call at deuce and was successful by just a couple of millimetres, chalking up 5-3 moments later.

Navarro, seeded for a Grand Slam for the first time at the Australian Open in January, reached the third round in Melbourne. She also thrived on the major stage in Paris, reaching the fourth round at Roland-Garros. ‘Ice Girl’ can clearly take the Grand Slam heat.

Osaka stuck to her guns, with unrelenting power play off serve and return. The Japanese star’s strike rate was all too sporadic. On the flip side, Navarro was flicking instinctive shots into the corners. At 3-0 the American crouched, stepped over the left tramline and laser beamed a backhand down the line. So calm, so composed, this was an ice-cool Centre Court debut.

“Definitely a special experience playing out on Centre Court. There was some specific preparation today in terms of just a game plan and how I wanted to take it on, mentally.

“But also I think it’s been years of preparation that made me able to feel comfortable and feel like physically and mentally I’m able to take that challenge on,” Navarro said.

“Growing up, I actually didn't watch that much tennis. My brother watched way more than I did. He would get up at, like, five in the morning and catch a fifth set of whatever match. On occasion I would join him.

“I remember watching Federer and Nadal play. I don't know how many times they played at Wimbledon, but, yeah, that's a specific memory I have.

“I was actually thinking about that when I was out on the court today, just that I’m playing on a court that Federer and Nadal once played on, and that’s pretty cool.”