By: Iris Xu

Jennifer Brady’s journey to success was not an easy one. In 2020, she made her breakthrough at the U.S. Open during the height of the pandemic. Despite the strict health measures and empty stadium, she reached the semifinals. A few months later, she made it to the Australian Open final, but not without facing challenges during her hard quarantine in Melbourne.

Unfortunately, after her deep run in these tournaments, Brady faced setbacks due to a chronic foot condition and a knee injury. She found herself in a dark place, emotionally and physically, often wishing she could just get rid of her injured foot.

Brady’s absence from the tour lasted almost two years, and she finally returned to action in a satellite tournament in Granby, Quebec, winning a round but losing to Himeno Sakatsume in straight sets. Sakatsume, 22, born in Japan, is ranked 205 for singles.

Although Brady no longer has an official WTA ranking, she has a protected ranking that grants her entry into 12 tour-level events. Alongside possible wild cards, she intends to use this protected ranking to participate in the U.S. Open.

Brady, known for her powerful forehand, has been considered a promising player for a long time. However, her successful comeback is not guaranteed, and she understands the need to be cautious and take care of her body. She no longer has a personal coach but is accompanied by a physical therapist during her travels.

According to the New York Times, Brady’s breakthrough came when she moved her training base to Germany and worked with the German coach Michael Geserer. She won her opening tournament after the pandemic and reached the U.S. Open semifinal, losing to Naomi Osaka. She also faced Osaka in the Australian Open final in 2021 but was emotionally and physically drained afterward. Osaka, 25, also born in Japan, is ranked 429.

The hardest part for Brady during practice has been learning to hold back. “It’s almost like I don’t trust myself,” Brady said. “I realized it’s more about staying healthy and training smarter instead of harder.”

She had another tournament in Doha, Qatar, in February 2021. “I just didn’t want to be there,” Brady said. “I love competing, but I just didn’t want to compete. Mentally, I was absolutely fried.”

The persistent foot pain she experienced eventually led to plantar fasciitis, and she had to make several adjustments to her training and schedule. With the support of her team and a cortisone injection, she tried to get ready for the U.S. Open but faced new knee pain. This time, a stress fracture in her right knee required surgery in March 2022.

Throughout her journey, financial concerns also weighed heavily on Brady. While she has earned over $4.6 million in prize money, the expenses associated with professional tennis, along with medical bills during her layoff, posed challenges.

Despite all the setbacks, Brady’s determination is unwavering. After a long and difficult road, she is finally ready to return to her job and showcase her talents once again.