Emilio Nava Honors Late Friend with Touching French Open Moment

Emilio Nava’s Tribute to Braun Levi

Honoring a Life Cut Short

World No. 137 Emilio Nava has turned heartbreak into purpose by honoring late high-school tennis star Braun Levi, who was tragically killed by an alleged drunk driver in Los Angeles.¹

Through emotional statements and public displays of support, the 23-year-old American has pledged to keep Levi’s memory alive by sporting a “LIVE LIKE BRAUN” patch during his matches for the rest of the 2024 season.

This touching gesture is more than symbolic — it’s a call to action to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and to promote the values that Braun lived by.

Social distancing🙌😁 pic.twitter.com/Vm9Xs6IUXN

— Emilio Nava (@EmilioNava_) March 27, 2020

A Promising Life Lost to a Preventable Tragedy

On May 4, 2024, the Los Angeles community was rocked by the untimely death of 18-year-old Braun Levi. A student at Loyola High School and a rising tennis talent, Levi had his whole future ahead of him.

Tragically, his life was cut short when a drunk driver struck him on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach. Emergency services responded quickly, but Levi succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department confirmed the fatality in a statement issued on May 7. What followed was an outpouring of grief from Levi’s friends, classmates, and the larger tennis community.

Across social media, tributes poured in, painting a picture of a kind-hearted and driven young man with a love for life and sport.

Emilio Nava’s Emotional Reaction

Although Emilio Nava never met Braun Levi, the tragedy struck a personal chord.²

Nava, who grew up not far from where Levi lived, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram that reflected the emotional weight he has carried since the incident.

“Tragedy hit on May 4th when a young man’s life was cut short by a drunk driver,” Nava wrote. “Though I never had the privilege to meet Braun, his passing affected me deeply.”

It wasn’t just the loss itself that affected Nava — it was the realization that this could have been anyone. “Because the truth is, it could have been me, you, any of us,” he said in his post.

LIVE LIKE BRAUN: A Symbol of Purpose

In response to Levi’s tragic death, Nava began wearing a patch emblazoned with the letters “LLB” — standing for “LIVE LIKE BRAUN.”

He first wore it during the French Open and has since committed to wearing it for the rest of the 2024 tennis season.

The patch is not only a symbol of remembrance but also a public statement meant to educate and inform. By donning it during matches watched by thousands worldwide, Nava ensures the conversation around drunk driving remains active — and emotionally charged.

He explained, “Since Roland Garros, I’ve been wearing the LLB, Live Like Braun, patch in his honor and to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.”

The Foundation Behind the Message

The LIVE LIKE BRAUN initiative has grown into something larger than a patch. The Levi family and close friends of Braun have launched the Live Like Braun Foundation, aiming to carry forward the values Braun embodied — kindness, compassion, positivity, and community spirit.

Nava has lent his full support to the foundation, helping amplify its goals and message. He emphasized that the organization is focused not only on honoring Braun’s legacy but also on initiating real change.

“The Live Like Braun Foundation was created to carry forward the values Braun embodied such as kindness, strength, and a deep commitment to others,” Nava wrote. “Tragedies like this should never happen.”

A Community in Mourning, A Nation in Reflection

Levi’s death reverberated far beyond Los Angeles. Tennis communities across the country observed moments of silence. Schools in Southern California held remembrance vigils.

Levi’s funeral saw attendance from hundreds of classmates, teachers, tennis coaches, and public figures moved by the story.

It forced many to confront a hard truth: drunk driving remains a deadly and persistent issue.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 32 people die every day in the U.S. due to drunk driving. That’s one death every 45 minutes.

Braun Levi’s death is now part of that statistic — a sobering reminder that real lives lie behind these numbers.

Why Emilio Nava’s Tribute Matters?

In the often-insulated world of professional sports, emotional causes can easily be overlooked.³

Athletes are focused on performance, rankings, and sponsorships. But Nava’s decision to step outside of that bubble speaks volumes about his character.

He is using his platform not just for personal gain but to amplify the message that lives like Braun’s matter — and that reckless choices behind the wheel can have irreversible consequences.

The fact that Nava chose to highlight someone he never even met shows the true power of empathy and community spirit.

In a world increasingly defined by division, this act of solidarity and compassion is both rare and commendable.

Carrying the Message Forward

Nava’s mission doesn’t end with the tennis season. His efforts to support the Live Like Braun Foundation are ongoing. Plans are already underway for charity exhibition matches, fundraising clinics, and awareness campaigns — with Nava at the forefront.

He’s also encouraging other athletes to wear the LLB patch, hoping to create a visual movement that spans courts, tournaments, and continents.

“Wearing the patch is about more than just remembering Braun — it’s about making sure no one else suffers the same fate,” Nava said in a follow-up interview. “If I can influence just one person to think twice before drinking and driving, then it’s worth it.”

The Legacy of Braun Levi

While Levi’s life was tragically brief, the impact he made continues to ripple outward.

Described as a vibrant, generous, and inspiring young man, his legacy is now taking shape through the people he touched and the causes being pursued in his name.

The LIVE LIKE BRAUN campaign encourages individuals to live with intentionality, gratitude, and joy — just as Braun did.

The foundation’s work will also include providing scholarships for young tennis players, promoting mental health in youth sports, and creating resources for schools to educate students about substance abuse and road safety.

Emilio Nava’s Challenger Rise in 2025

A Breakthrough Year on Clay

Emilio Nava, a 23-year-old American tennis talent, has emerged as a serious force on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2025.

After steady growth and flashes of promise in previous years, Nava has finally cemented himself as one of the top contenders at the Challenger level.

His 2025 season so far includes three ATP Challenger titles—all on clay—and a remarkable 19-match winning streak that caught the attention of tennis fans and experts alike.

Let’s take a closer look at his achievements, the significance of his clay-court prowess, his French Open appearance, and what this surge could mean for the rest of his career.

Conquering Sarasota, Concepcion, and Asuncion

• Nava’s three Challenger titles this year came at the Sarasota Open (USA), the Challenger de Concepcion (Chile), and the Challenger de Asuncion (Paraguay).
• Each tournament presented its own set of challenges, with varying elevations, weather conditions, and competitive fields. Yet, Nava stood tall through them all.
• In Sarasota, the American capitalized on familiar conditions, using a mix of baseline consistency and athletic shot-making to dominate his opponents.
• His movement on clay—often a challenge for American players—looked surprisingly fluid, a sign of his off-season improvements.
• His victory in Concepcion was perhaps even more impressive. Battling the heavier conditions and more seasoned clay-courters from South America, Nava exhibited maturity beyond his years.
• He often played with controlled aggression, utilizing heavy topspin and smart point construction to outmaneuver his rivals.
• Then came Asuncion, where Nava capped off his early-season run with another title. Though the field wasn’t the deepest, he remained composed under pressure, particularly in tight three-set matches.
• This consistency and mental resolve were trademarks of his 2025 Challenger run.

Emilio Nava: The 19-Match Win Streak

A Statement on the Challenger Tour

One of the standout stories of Nava’s 2025 campaign has been his extraordinary 19-match winning streak between March and April.

During this run, he showcased not only physical resilience but also mental sharpness.

The streak included victories over established Challenger veterans and promising juniors alike. Nava’s confidence grew with each win, and his aggressive forehand became a weapon that dictated rallies against almost every opponent.

The run eventually came to an end in the Tallahassee Challenger final, where he was defeated by Chris Rodesch, a rising player from Luxembourg. Though the loss ended the streak, the result did little to diminish the impact Nava had made during those two months.

His streak was one of the longest on the Challenger circuit this year and a clear signal that he may soon be ready for a full-time move to ATP-level tournaments.

 

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The Clay Specialist: Nava’s Surface Strength

Interestingly, all five of Emilio Nava’s ATP Challenger titles have come on clay courts. Traditionally, American players have gravitated toward hard courts, with relatively few excelling on clay. But Nava appears to be bucking that trend.

His movement on clay is one of his biggest assets. Unlike many of his compatriots, Nava slides into shots with comfort and utilizes angles effectively. His topspin-heavy forehand works well on the slower surface, and his backhand, while not as explosive, is reliable enough to hold its own in extended rallies.

Moreover, his willingness to grind out long points, along with a solid second-serve return game, has given him an edge on clay. This specialization, though niche among Americans, could be the key to Nava carving out a distinct identity on tour.

Roland Garros: A Taste of the Big Stage

Nava’s Challenger success did not go unnoticed by the USTA, who awarded him a wildcard into the 2025 French Open. It was a significant opportunity—a chance for him to test himself against the best on the biggest clay-court stage in the world.

In the first round, Nava came through with a composed performance, showing that he could handle the pressure and noise of a Grand Slam main draw.

However, the second round presented a much tougher challenge: 10th-seeded Holger Rune, one of the most dangerous clay-court players on the ATP Tour.

Rune proved too strong on the day, defeating Nava in straight sets. Despite the loss, the experience was invaluable for the American.

He faced a top-tier opponent, dealt with the atmosphere of a packed Court Suzanne-Lenglen, and learned the physical and mental intensity required at the elite level.