American Jennifer Brady battled nerves to defeat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in straight sets and reach the semi-finals of the US Open fo...
American Jennifer Brady battled nerves to defeat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in straight sets and reach the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time Tuesday.
Brady, seeded 28th, beat her 23rd-seeded opponent 6-3, 6-2, in just 1hr 9min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Coming into the match today, honestly I was feeling like I was going to poop my pants. I was very nervous,” said Brady.
“I just tried to really stay calm and keep it cool as a cucumber out there,” she added.
Brady will play either fourth seed Naomi Osaka or fellow American Shelby Rogers, who is unseeded, for a place in the final.
The 25-year-old had been competing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Her previous best US Open appearance was when she reached the last 16 in 2017. She also reached the same stage of the Australian Open that year.
Brady is yet to drop a set at the 2020 US Open and has lost only 24 games during her march to the semis, the fewest of anyone left in the draw.
In the last 16 she knocked out three-time Grand Slam champion and 2016 US Open winner Angelique Kerber.
Putintseva struggled to cope with Brady’s booming forehands and ability to dart around the court.
Brady raced to an 4-0 lead in the first set, breaking...
