TEMPE, Ariz. – It’s been five years since Jennifer Brady, a former standout student-athlete at UCLA, battled with Naomi Osaka in the women’s singles final at the 2021 Australian Open.
Brady, who was ranked No. 22 on the WTA Tour at the time, made quick work of her opponents through the first four rounds of action at the first Grand Slam of the season. She emerged in three sets against both Jessica Pegula (4-6, 6-2, 6-1) in the quarters and Karolina Muchova (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) in the semis, setting up a bout with No. 3 Osaka in the final.
In the final, which served as a rematch of the 2020 U.S. Open semis, Osaka got the better of the former Bruin in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). Despite the loss, Brady made history in her championship appearance, becoming the first former college player to reach the title match of a Grand Slam since Kathy Jordan at the 1983 Australian Open.
Required to self-isolate for two weeks following a positive test for coronavirus in the lead-up to the tournament, Brady pieced together a career-best run at a Grand Slam amid unconventional conditions.
Former collegians like Brady have long been tied to the Australian Open, dating back to Dorothy Cheney, who won the women’s singles title at the 1938 Australian Championship, now known as the Open, over Australia’s Dorothy Stevensen (6-3, 6-2). Cheney, a product of Rollins College, was inducted into the ITA Women’s Hall of Fame in 1998.
A year after Brady battled with Osaka, fellow collegian Danielle Collins reached the 2022 women’s singles final, falling in straight sets (6-3, 7-6). A three-year Virginia Cavalier and one-time Florida Gator, Collins’ run to the final marked the second consecutive season in which a former collegian was on the grandest stage in the sport.
Stanford’s star sister duo of Kathy and Barbara Jordan, who were the national collegiate doubles champions in 1978, both brought their championship pedigrees to the Australian Open. Kathy Jordan reached the finals of the 1983 Australian Open, just four years after winning the collegiate singles national title, but lost in straight sets to Martina Navratilova. Barbara Jordan was the Australian Open champion in 1979, beating Sharon Walsh (6-3, 6-3). Both sisters were members of the ITA Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 2004.
Betsy Nagelsen McCormack of State College of Florida, won the Australian Open doubles title in 1978 and 1980, in addition to reaching the singles final in 1978. Nagelsen McCormack was one of 10 members inducted into the inaugural ITA Women’s Hall of Fame Class of 1995.
Doris Hart, considered one of the “greatest athletes” to ever play for the University of Miami, had a fantastic two-year stretch at the Australian Open from 1949-50. Hart beat Australia’s Nancye Bolton in 1949 (6-3, 6-4) and was the runner-up in 1950 to Louise Brough, falling in a three-set thriller (6-4, 3-6, 6-4).
The Australian Open has long been tied to college tennis, and perhaps that’s never been on display more than in this year’s tournament. More than three dozen collegians were in the men’s and women’s singles main draw, signaling both the strength of the sport and the pathway to the professional tour.