Jennifer Brady backed up her breakout run to the 2020 US Open semifinals with a runner-up finish at the 2021 Australian Open, cementing her place at the top of the women's game. Her new career-high ranking of world No. 13 would be even higher if not for the revised WTA ranking system, put in place due to COVID-19.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native and Orlando, Florida, resident is now the No. 3-ranked American woman, behind world No. 4 Sofia Kenin and No. 7 Serena Williams.
The 25-year-old former UCLA Bruin spoke with USTA.com from her hotel room in Melbourne, the day after her championship match against Naomi Osaka.
Q. Now that you've had a night to sleep on it, how do you reflect on what you've just accomplished, getting to your first Grand Slam final?
Jennifer Brady: I'm super thrilled and excited to make my first Grand Slam final. I think it just solidifies the hard work that I've been putting in and shows the fact that I belong at this level. My semifinal run at the US Open wasn't out of the blue. It happened for a reason and just a few months later, I'm making the finals of another Grand Slam, making the second week. It just shows the hard work I've been putting in and improving day in and day out.
Q. Are those balloons I see behind you? Did you have a little party last night?
Jennifer Brady: Yeah, Tennis Australia set up something, there was a cake in here when I arrived, some champagne, balloons. It was really nice.
Q. Did you rest easy last night? When you put your head on your pillow, were you tossing and turning? How were those moments as you reflected?
Jennifer Brady: Oh yeah, the adrenaline was high. I didn't fall asleep until like 6:30 in the morning, and that wasn't because I was out clubbing. I was just lying in bed for a lot of hours, on social media, responding to everyone's messages. I got a couple of hours of sleep.
Q. I saw one of your posts and I thought it was about 6 a.m. over there. I was wondering if that was you or maybe an automated post, something from your agent maybe.
Jennifer Brady: Oh no, that was me.
Q: I saw that Jessica Pegula was in your player box for the final. Did you two speak much about your quarterfinal match afterwards? Can you share anything about that?
Jennifer Brady: We spoke before and after the match. We were actually in the locker room, 10 minutes before we went on court, we were chatting like we weren't even going to play each other. We were shooting the breeze with each other, doing some smack talk.
After, we sent each other some really nice messages, which was really nice from her. We had a nice embrace at the net, just saying how proud we are of each other and hopefully we'll have more battles in the future.
Q. What did it mean to have her in your player box for the final?
Jennifer Brady: It means a lot to me to have the support of a friend and also a fellow competitor. Just having Jess there, and also another friend and player, Desirae Krawczyk. Two of my really good friends, having them supporting me, cheering me on, it's really awesome to see. It just shows that we aren't all out for blood. We can also still be friends off the court, even if we're competitors on the court.
Q: With about 7,000 fans in Rod Laver Arena, how does that feel to you on the court? Does it feel like it's full?
Jennifer Brady: Oh, it felt full to me, definitely. Maybe if it was Arthur Ashe with 7,000 people, maybe it wouldn't. But it definitely felt full.
