I can’t feel my legs: Brady emotional over semi-final win

A 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 topsy-turvy victory saw Jennifer Brady claim her maiden Grand Slam final today as she overcame plucky Czech Karolina Muchova on Rod Laver Arena.

Brady produced 20 winners against 38 errors and broke Muchova three times on her way to victory, saying after the match: “I can’t feel my legs. My legs are shaking and my heart is racing.”

The players embrace after Brady’s win. Photo: Tennis Australia/ MORGAN HANCOCK

The American brought up two match points at 5-4 in the deciding set and looked to be in control but dropped to her knees on the second one thinking she had won.

The shot was called out.

Muchova had three break points but then made three errors and Brady finally clinched it when Muchova drove a shot too long.

Karolina Muchova staged a second set comeback, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Jennifer Brady. Photo: Tennis Australia/ MORGAN HANCOCK

“I was feeling a little strange today. I was super excited but at the same time I was pretty flat-footed. I felt like I was stuck in mud. I didn’t really pick up my intensity until the beginning of the third set,” Brady said.

“I’m obviously pretty excited to be in the finals. It’s an incredible achievement but I think it will be a really tough match, obviously she’s (Osaka) won a few grand slams, we had a tough match at the US Open in the semi-finals. She even said it was one of her top-two matches, which was a little unfortunate for me.”

Jennifer Brady reacts on winning her semi-final match on Rod Laver Arena. Photo: Tennis Australia/ MORGAN HANCOCK

Earlier Muchova staged a second set comeback but the third belonged to Brady. Muchova lost her serve and her game slowly disintegrated.

Seeded 22, Brady is the seventh woman to make her maiden slam final in the past nine tournaments, such is the nature of women’s tennis currently.

She won her first WTA title at Lexington last year and made her slam debut in 2017.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

3 weeks ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

3 weeks ago

Djokovic rolls Cobolli as Shanghai fights to restore order

Novak Djokovic returned to action after waiting tow days to play as the rain-hit Shanghai…

4 weeks ago

Innocent umpiring error screws Stan in Shanghai

Stan Wawrinka may have been inadvertently short-changed during Monday's third-round loss at the Shanghai Masters…

4 weeks ago

Sinner sweeps Fritz to win US Open

Jannik Sinner schooled Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to win his second Grand Slam title…

2 months ago

Sabalenka wins Open title for Grand Slam hat-trick

Aryana Sabalenka completed a Grand Slam title hat-trick on Saturday as she fought from 5-3…

2 months ago