Push Admin

2021 Australian Open: Semis-bound Jennifer Brady changes tune on tennis

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/17/tennis-ausopen.jpg"/><figcaption>Jennifer Brady of the U.S. in action during her quarter final match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. <em>REUTERS/Kelly Defina</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Big-serving Jennifer Brady revealed Wednesday that she once loathed tennis but has &quot;grown to love it&quot; after staging a comeback victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.</p><p>The 22nd seed finished strongly with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win on Rod Laver Arena and will now face Czech 25th seed Karolina Muchova, who earlier stunned world number one Ashleigh Barty.</p><p>Brady, the last woman standing among those forced into a hard 14-day quarantine after arriving in Australia, is into the final four for the second time in the last three Slams. </p><p>Before last year&#x27;s US Open, where she lost an epic semi-final to eventual champion Naomi Osaka, Brady had been bounced out of the first round four times in her previous five majors. </p><p>&quot;It definitely helps, just helps overall confidence,&quot; she said about making Grand Slam semi-finals.</p><p>&quot;Just knowing that I belong at this level, I can compete in the second week of Grand Slams consistently, and hope to continue to do that consistently.&quot; </p><p>Brady looked in trouble after dropping the first set and threw her racquet in frustration after losing a point in the middle of the second set. </p><p>The outburst, much like Novak Djokovic&#x27;s racquet-smash on Tuesday, seemed to refocus Brady, who then ran away with the match after dominating the deciding set. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/17/21/2021-australian-open-tsitsipas-plots-nadal-revenge-in-melbourne">2021 Australian Open: Tsitsipas plots Nadal revenge in Melbourne</a></li></ul><p>Brady, 25, said she&#x27;s become consumed by tennis, watching &quot;as much as possible&quot; -- a far cry from her childhood, when she disliked the sport. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve grown to love it. When I was younger, I used to hate watching tennis. I didn&#x27;t really enjoy playing either, to be honest,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t like to study. I didn&#x27;t like school. I found that out real quick when I went to college. </p><p>&quot;I was like, &#x27;Okay, studying isn&#x27;t really for me.&#x27;</p><p>&quot;So it took me to get away a little bit from the sport to realise that this is what I want to do.&quot;</p><p>Having beaten her friend Pegula, whose billionaire father owns the Buffalo Bills NFL franchise, Brady is now just a victory away from a maiden Grand Slam final, but Muchova stands in the way.</p><p>&quot;She&#x27;s crafty, looks to move forward and has an all-court game. She&#x27;s really athletic,&quot; Brady said of the Czech, who won the pair&#x27;s only previous clash.</p><p>&quot;I hope it will be a good, competitive match. I&#x27;m looking forward to it.&quot;</p><div><strong>tl/mp/th</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/77VcA9UQSdU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Big-serving Jennifer Brady revealed Wednesday that she once loathed tennis but has "grown to love it" after staging a comeback victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.</p>

Big-serving Jennifer Brady revealed Wednesday that she once loathed tennis but has "grown to love it" after staging a comeback victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.