Brady 'emotional' on returning to US Open after injury nightmare wih Osaka semi-final memories: "But they were good emotions"
WTA
“I’m back
at the US Open, ready to play the tournament for the first time in three years
following a very tough period of injuries,”
“I’ve been
on-site at the tennis the last few days and I got to practise on Arthur Ashe
stadium. It was my first time on Ashe in three years and I was really excited
just to be on that court hitting; it was really cool to experience that again,”
Read also
The
American recalled her painful defeat in the semifinals of the 2021 US Open
against eventual champion Naomi Osaka. Brady, who entered as the 28th seed,
reached that stage in a Grand Slam for the first time and fell 6-7, 6-3, 3-6.
“Of course,
it was emotional stepping back on that court but they were good emotions
because the last match I played there was the semi-final against Naomi Osaka
and, to me, that was probably one of the best matches that I've ever played,
even though I lost.”
Within the
first five minutes of my hit on Ashe this week, I was already smiling pretty
big and happy to just to be out there and hitting again,” Brady claimed.
Read also
“What I
remember from that semi-final against Naomi is that it was such a high-quality
match, from the very first point all the way to the end. Both of us were in the
zone, dialled in, and it was just really high-quality tennis. I was moving
well, playing well, feeling the ball. Just really enjoying it,” Brady added.
“It was
2020, so it was unfortunate that we had no fans in the stadium, but I hope I
get the chance to come out and play on Ashe again this year, and hopefully many
more times. It will probably be more emotional, having fans there and playing
in front of a crowd and a little bit more nerves, but I think looking back,
that match was probably one of the best matches either one of us has ever
played.”
“Foot and
knee injuries kept me out of action for two years, and now that I’ve returned
to the tour, it’s hard not to keep going back and thinking, ‘Oh, I'm not doing
this, I'm not hitting my forehand the way I used to, I'm not serving the way I
used to, I'm not moving the way I used to’, and it's hard mentally to just keep
looking back and comparing where I'm at now to where I was three years ago
playing this tournament.”
“The two
years I spent on the sidelines were really s*****.”
I love
tennis, I love everything about it, and I love competing, and there's nothing
that can replicate the emotion and the adrenaline of just stepping on centre
court and competing and playing tennis; it's just an indescribable feeling,”
added Brady.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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