“I was next to Serena and just froze”: Former Australian Open finalist recalls unforgettable locker room momento

Former Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady shared one of her most relatable moments as a tennis professional — the time she was so star-struck by Serena Williams that she ‘literally abandoned her locker mid-cleanup’. Speaking on The Players Podcast with Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Desirae Krawczyk, the American detailed the moment that left her completely frozen inside the cramped locker room of the French Open.

“It was at Roland Garros, and you guys know how the space is very small,” Brady explained. “I was actually next to Serena, and I was cleaning out my locker. I had four boxes of laundry — literally two bras and like one pair of shorts in one box — and I just froze up.” What followed was pure comedy. “I just literally go stand on the bench, walk over, jump over the bags, and just leave. I never even finished cleaning out my locker.”

The former owrld No. 13 laughed as she recalled the scene, admitting she was too intimidated to even stay in the same corner. “I just had this urge to leave her in her space. I was like, ‘I’m in her way. I have to move,’” she said. For someone who has competed against Grand Slam champions, it was a strikingly honest admission.

The anecdote, told in the relaxed and unfiltered style of The Players Podcast, quickly became a fan-favourite online. For listeners, it offered a glimpse behind the curtain of professional tennis — a rare, unscripted moment where admiration meets awkwardness, all unfolding in a few seconds of self-conscious panic next to a legend of the game.

Brady’s second confession on the podcast was equally memorable, though this one involved no legends — just a cockroach. “It was a night match,” she said. “I was the last person to leave and was packing up my stuff when I saw a cockroach go running. I jumped up on top of one of the benches and started just screaming bloody murder.”

The chaos was loud enough to cause alarm outside the locker room. “It truly sounded like I was being attacked,” Brady admitted. “The poor security man came running in because I was the only person left. He’s like, ‘Are you okay?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, it was a bug. Sorry.’”

The player, currently 30 years old, has remained inactive since her last official match at the China Open 2023, where she reached the second round and ultimately retired against Magda Linette. Since her run to the 2021 Australian Open final—where she lost to Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-3—injuries have continuously troubled her.

It was a season with several retirements, with her last match played at the Cincinnati Open in August, where she withdrew due to a knee injury while facing Jelena Ostapenko in the second round. She spent two years off the courts until her return in July 2023, with high expectations during the American hardcourt swing. The former World No. 13 achieved a 6-6 record since her comeback, remaining in competition for nearly 3 months before taking another break due to injury.