"I just felt my life had no purpose": Brady honest on time away from tennis due to injury giving her new perspective
WTA
Jennifer
Brady revealed the difficult moments she experienced after being sidelined from
the WTA Tour for two years due to injuries.
The
American tennis player showcased her potential to be a world-class player in
2020 and 2021. She reached the semifinals of the US Open and the final of the
Australian Open, losing to Naomi Osaka on both occasions, with Osaka clinching
both titles.
Injuries
disrupted Brady's ability to maintain consistency in 2021, ultimately leading
her to step away from the WTA Tour. She made her return at the WTA 500
Washington Open after her extended hiatus. Brady shared the challenges she
faced during her time away from the sport:
“If
somebody had told me, ‘You're going to be out for two full years, go do
whatever,' I would have done something: get a job, go back to school, do all of
it. I just felt like my life had no purpose because I was just playing a
waiting game,” she wrote in an essay for Eurosport.
“There was
not much that I could do physically, so just trying to find things to kill time
to make the days go by. It’s kind of sad now that I talk about it,” Brady added.
Brady also
confessed that despite the setbacks of injuries, she fought hard to make her
way back to the tour.
“I didn't
want to have any regrets. If I had gone, 'this isn't working, maybe I'll just
go back to school', I would also end up feeling, what if? You just can't really
live your life like that. You have to commit and just trust the process,” she
wrote.
“I just
wanted to play tennis. It is who I am. It is my identity,” she added.
Read also
“The tennis
world is like a little bubble. As soon as you lose, you're out of the
tournament and you book a flight for the next day. You're off to the next event
and you're just in this cycle of doing the same thing over and over and not
really taking a step back or just looking from the outside and being like,
‘Wow, the life that we live is unbelievable,’” Brady explained.
“Some of us
complain about things that really are not that big of a deal. Things are a lot
tougher in the real world. I want no part of the real world. We have
flexibility in our work life, we make our own schedules and we're in charge.
We're our own boss and we're extremely privileged to be doing what we're
doing,” she added.
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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