Brady embraces measured, realistic comeback to tennis after 848-day layoff
During Jennifer Brady’s 848-day layoff from tennis, essentially the most troublesome factor was the “unknown.”
The former World No. 13 on the WTA Driven by Mercedes-Benz and 2021 Australian Open finalist had battled a big knee damage courting again to late 2023 that required surgical procedure, and with an intensive restoration, the damage saved her from returning to play till earlier this season. This damage got here after a close to two-year absence from August 2021 to July 2023 with comparable knee and foot points.
“I thought the toughest thing was just not knowing when I would compete again — just sort of the unknown,” Brady advised wtatennis.com Monday throughout media day forward of the Miami Open. “That was probably the toughest thing, the scariest thing.”
In late January, Brady returned to aggressive play at an ITF W100 in San Diego, California, reaching the semifinals in her first match for the reason that 2023 China Open in Beijing. After, she obtained a qualifying draw wild card for Austin and main-draw wild playing cards for Indian Wells and now Miami, the place she is going to face fellow American wild card Sloane Stephens within the first spherical on Wednesday, March 18.
Throughout the entire restoration course of, her will to be on the courtroom was by no means misplaced, fueling her motivation to return to the game the place she’s had loads of success.
“I really, really love this sport and I love competing,” Brady stated. “I love being able to travel to all the places that we get to go and to experience the things that we get to experience, and it’s only such a short part of your life.”
Brady’s preserving her expectations at a realistic degree, she stated, specializing in getting extra matches below her belt and slowly discovering her kind once more. Physically, Brady stated she’s feeling good, and she or he is aware of that whereas it will be nice to advance deep right into a WTA occasion, it is not essentially a high precedence.
Her first-round assembly with Stephens might be simply her seventh aggressive general and third tour-level match since returning.
“When I go out there, I’m going to have expectations on myself of how I want to play,” Brady stated. “I feel it is simply not tremendous realistic to be pondering, ‘Okay, I’m going to come on the market and play the way in which that I used to be a pair years in the past.’
“I think it’s just about how I handle myself, how I compete and just trying to get small wins here and there, just trying to be patient and keep building.”
In the six matches Brady’s performed this yr, she’s been aggressive in each match. All three of her defeats got here in three units, and most lately the primary spherical of the BNP Paribas Open, Brady was up a set and 3-1 in opposition to World No. 55 Antonia Ruzic earlier than the match bought away from her in a 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 defeat.
“A lot of these players that I’m competing against have been playing for that time period — that last 2.5 years — that I’ve been off,” Brady stated. “They’ve been competing and playing and getting that match toughness, match fitness, all that. I think just, you know, (I’m) just taking it one day at a time, one match at a time and, you know, just keep trying to improve.”
Given Brady grew up about 40 minutes north of Miami and presently resides in Florida, she considers the Miami Open to be her house match. It’s simply her third WTA Tour occasion of the season, however Brady has loved seeing a number of pals throughout the tour and has appreciated all of the help fellow gamers have given her as she’s made her manner again into the fold.
Long time period, Brady stated she is not putting any particular metric or goal goals she needs to attain by the season’s finish, however relatively needs to take this yr to discover her recreation once more and keep wholesome. Following Miami, Brady stated she’s trying ahead to the Credit One Charleston Open, one in all her favourite stops on tour, including that she’ll additionally “hopefully” be in Roland Garros qualifiers utilizing her protected rating.
For now, Brady’s targeted on his matchup with Stephens. Despite being each American veterans of the game, this might be their first-ever tour-level matchup. Similarly, Stephens entered the 2026 yr after recovering from a proper foot stress fracture damage, and each gamers are searching for their first tour-level fundamental draw wins since their respective accidents occurred.
“It won’t be an easy match,” Brady stated. “There is never an easy match at this level. It’ll be a tough one and I know she was out a little bit for injury as well. I hope it’s a good match and I’m excited to play.”
