Former Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady makes winning return to tennis

Former Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady played her first match in nearly two years and made a winning comeback, beating Japan’s Kyoka Okamura in straight sets at the ITF $100K Canada event in Granby.

Brady won over the 271st-ranked Okamura and will next meet sixth seed Himeno Sakatsume, also from Japan, in the second round.

Jennifer Brady is officially back.
First match since Cincinnati nearly two years ago.
(The chair ump is a friend of mine so if we need anything, I've gotcher back. 🤣) pic.twitter.com/ryaHZr3IEg

— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) July 17, 2023

The former world No 13’s last competitive tournament was the Western & Southern Open in August 2021 following which she was sidelined by a knee injury which later required surgery. The American was due to return earlier this year but a foot injury further delayed her comeback.

“Big week this week, playing first match back. Super thrilled,” she said in one of her posts on Instagram prior to her match. “Just want to say it’s about damn time. Finally getting back out there.”

Brady, who also announced a tie-up with Flex Seal, who make super wide duct tapes, reached the final of the 2021 Australian Open where she lost to Naomi Osaka in the final. She also reached the semi-finals of the 2020 US Open.

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