Jennifer Brady pauses comeback: Former finalist withdraws from Australian Open qualyfing

Former world No. 13 Jennifer Brady has withdrawn from the Australian Open qualifying event, delaying her return to Melbourne for the first time since 2018. The American, who was the runner-up at the 2021 Aussie Open, had planned to use her ranking to compete in the tournament but will now miss the start of the 2026 season, according to tennis insider Ben Rothenberg.

Brady has faced multiple injuries over the past several years. In 2021, she suffered a foot injury that forced her off the court. This was followed by a knee problem requiring surgery in 2022, which affected her ability to maintain a consistent presence on the WTA Tour.

She returned to competition in 2023 but participated in only a limited number of tournaments. Her most notable result during that period was reaching the third round of the 2023 US Open. Later that year, at the China Open in October, Brady sustained another injury that led her to retire in the second round. This match marked her most recent appearance on the WTA Tour.

Brady has not provided details regarding the specific reasons for her withdrawal from the Australian Open qualifying draw, nor has she indicated when she might return to competitive play.

Her absence from Melbourne continues a pattern of interrupted seasons caused by injury. She has not competed in any official WTA events since her retirement at the China Open in 2023, leaving her current fitness level and tournament plans unconfirmed.

The withdrawal comes as the 2026 season begins, with the Australian Open set to be the first Grand Slam of the year. Brady had aimed to return to the tournament for the first time in five years, following her 2021 final appearance, but injuries have again prevented her from competing.

While Brady’s current ranking is No. 222, it may make a return to Grand Slam main draws difficult. However, her status as a former Grand Slam finalist could help her secure wildcard entries if she does return to the tour in the near future.

The 30-year-old American has won 15 of her last 19 matches in Grand Slam tournaments and holds one WTA title, the 2020 Lexington Open, where she defeated Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann. Recently, Brady has remained in the public eye as part of The Players’ Box Podcast, joining fellow Americans Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Desirae Krawczyk to discuss insights on the WTA Tour and share their perspectives on the current state of professional tennis.