Brady batters way into semis
ON the eve of the US Open, Pam Shriver, the American who won 22 Grand Slam doubles titles, pulled out a name who she thought could surprise the favourites at this year’s event.
“I think we’re going to see some more relaxed athletes,” Shriver said, thinking of the effect no fans would have on the US Open, usually the rowdiest of the four Grand Slams where the spectators feel they are part of the show and act accordingly.
“I think someone like Jen Brady, if she keeps playing the way she’s been playing, I think she could be a contender.”
Yesterday, the American, ranked 41 at the start of the event and seeded 28th in the absence of several higherranked players, crushed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6- 3, 6- 2 to reach her first Grand Slam semi- final, on home turf.
She’ll face the winner of last night’s quarter- final between former champion Naomi Osaka and another unheralded American Shelby Rogers. She may never have a better chance to make a Grand Slam final.
A former college student with a big serve and top- class forehand, the 25- year- old Brady has improved out of sight this year, thanks largely to an improved fitness regime under the tutelage of coach Michael Geserer.
Together, the pair have made Brady into a fine athlete and the effect on her game has been immense, the knowledge that she can stay out there as long as she needs giving her confidence to play her game and not rush.
Against Putintseva, who has made a couple of Roland-Garros quarter- finals but who was also appearing in her first US Open last- eight encounter, Brady raced to a 4- 0 lead.
Putintseva, who relies on smart tennis rather than power, drop shots rather than massive serves, got one of the breaks back but Brady held on to take the set and led 2- 0 in the second.
Her only testing moment came when she was pegged back to 2- 2 but she broke again immediately and ran away with the match, no sign of the nerves that usually accompany matches at Flushing Meadows when the finishing line approaches.
“It’s a little bit easier when there is no fans… yeah, a little bit easier,” Brady said.
“I the crowd was there, I think it would have been awesome to have that experience to even just experience the loud roar on Ashe with 20,000 people.
“I definitely would have enjoyed that, but the times that we’re in, unfortunately we can’t have that and I’m just happy to be out there competing.”
Nevertheless, Brady did not mind admitting she was anxious ahead of her first Grand Slam quarter- final.
“Coming into the match today, honestly I was feeling like I was going to poop my pants,” she said. “I was very nervous. I just tried to really stay calm and, like, keep it cool as a cucumber out there.”
Former Wimbledon runnerup Vera Zvonareva, now 35 and one of a number of players making their way back on Tour this year, is into the final of the women’s doubles, with Laura Siegemund of Germany.