Five-year flashback: UCLA’s Brady reaches women’s singles final at Australian Open

TEMPE, Ariz. – It’s been five years since Jennifer Brady, a former standout student-athlete at UCLA, battled Naomi Osaka in the women’s singles final at the 2021 Australian Open.

Brady, who was ranked 22nd on the WTA Tour at the time, made quick work of her opponents during the first four rounds of action at the first Grand Slam of the season. She emerged in three sets against both Jessica Pegula (4-6, 6-2, 6-1) in the quarterfinals and Karolina Muchova (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) in the semifinals, setting up a battle with No. 3 Osaka in the final.

In the final, which served as a rematch of the 2020 US Open semifinals, Osaka defeated the former Bruin in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). Despite the loss, Brady made history during her championship performance, becoming the first former college player to reach the title match of a Grand Slam since Kathy Jordan at the 1983 Australian Open.

Brady was forced to self-isolate for two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus in the lead-up to the tournament and put in a career-best performance at a Grand Slam in unconventional circumstances.

Former colleagues like Brady have long been associated with the Australian Open, dating back to Dorothy Cheney, who won the women’s singles title at the 1938 Australian Championship, now known as the Open, against Australia’s Dorothy Stevensen (6-3, 6-2). A product of Rollins College, Cheney was inducted into the ITA Women’s Hall of Fame in 1998.

A year after Brady fought Osaka, fellow rival Danielle Collins reached the 2022 women’s singles final, falling in straight sets (6-3, 7-6). A three-year Virginia Cavalier and one-time Florida Gator, Collins’ run to the finals marked the second straight season in which a former collegiate has stood on the biggest stage in sports.

Stanford’s star sister duo Kathy and Barbara Jordan, who were the 1978 national collegiate doubles champions, both brought their championship credentials to the Australian Open. Kathy Jordan reached the final of the 1983 Australian Open, just four years after winning the national collegiate singles title, but lost to Martina Navratilova in straight sets. Barbara Jordan became the 1979 Australian Open champion, beating Sharon Walsh (6-3, 6-3). Both sisters were members of the ITA Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 2004.

Betsy Nagelsen McCormack of State College of Florida won the Australian Open doubles title in 1978 and 1980, in addition to reaching the singles final in 1978. Nagelsen McCormack was one of 10 members inducted into the inaugural ITA Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 1995.

Doris Hart, considered one of the “greatest athletes” to ever play for the University of Miami, had a fantastic two-year stint at the Australian Open from 1949-50. Hart defeated Australian Nancye Bolton in 1949 (6-3, 6-4) and finished second to Louise Brough in 1950, falling in a three-set thriller (6-4, 3-6, 6-4).

The Australian Open has long been associated with college tennis, and perhaps never has that been more evident than at this year’s tournament. More than three dozen colleagues took part in the main draw of the men’s and women’s singles, signaling both the strength of the sport and the path to the professional tour.