After Williams falls, Brady flies US flag to reach final

Friday, 19 February 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Jennifer Brady

MELBOURNE (Reuters): Jennifer Brady ensured there would be an American in the Australian Open final after Serena Williams’ exit by downing Karolina Muchova 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the semi-finals on Thursday.

On a stifling afternoon at Rod Laver Arena, former college player Brady dug herself out of a mid-match hole to reach her first Grand Slam decider and a daunting title clash with Naomi Osaka, the woman who knocked her out of the U.S. Open semis.

The 2019 champion Osaka earlier eliminated Williams in straight sets, but 22nd seed Brady ensured the United States would have another finalist a year after Sofia Kenin upset Garbine Muguruza for the 2020 trophy.

Brady saw four match points slip through her fingers as she served it out nervously but finally celebrated the win when Muchova fired a forehand long.Brady slumped onto the court as a capped crowd cheered, and she was still overcome with the moment in her on-court interview.

Brady’s achievement is all the more remarkable after having been one of the 72 players who spent two weeks in hard quarantine and were unable to train like the rest of the field.