Jennifer Brady of the United States celebrates after match point against Angelique Kerber. (Source: USA Today)Jennifer Brady produced a fearless brand of tennis to topple 2016 champion Angelique Kerber 6-1 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the U.S. Open on Sunday.
That first Slam quarterfinal feeling.
Take a bow, Jen Brady! 👏@jennifurbrady95 | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/047iPk43f9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2020
Brady appeared firmly in control from the start, opening the campaign with an ace and utilising her monster forehand to break down Kerber’s defence.
A double fault followed by two errors from Kerber handed Brady a break for a 2-1 lead, with the American eventually closing out the set in 22 minutes.
A medical timeout to get her left thigh taped midway through the second set failed to distract Brady as she fended off two break points to hold her serve for a 5-3 lead.
She sealed the win with a powerful serve that Kerber returned long.
“(Kerber is) a great player, she makes you fight for every point,” said the 25-year-old Brady, who clinched her first WTA title last month.
“I came out, I knew what I wanted to do and I’m pretty proud of myself.”