Jennifer Brady pushed herself off the bench and immediately knew something was off.
“After the match against (Whitney Kay of University of North Carolina), my foot just felt funny and I couldn’t walk,” Brady said. “I knew something was wrong.”
Competing in the International Tennis Federation circuit in the fall and cramming five matches in two days at the Freeman Memorial Championship in Las Vegas had finally taken a physical toll on the UCLA sophomore.
An MRI back in Los Angeles revealed that Brady had suffered a right foot fracture that would sideline her for the bulk of the season.
With her teammates practicing and preparing for Pac-12 play, a disappointed Brady and her heavily booted foot were relegated to the bleachers, forced to become a spectator.
“I’ve never had an injury where I had to be out of tennis for this long,” she said. “Not being able to compete and practice was a bummer.”
Overcome with frustration, the Bruins’ No. 2 player relied on her teammates for emotional support and reassurance.
Senior Kaitlin Ray, who also nursed injuries her sophomore season, comforted Brady and advised her to focus on getting healthy.
“At the end of the season, we need everyone to win another championship,” Ray said. “We do that by managing these injuries early. Like the coaches said, ‘If you don’t rest and take care of yourself, you’ll be watching the NCAAs at home.’”
As the Bruins faced top team after top team, Brady hobbled around determined to find a way to practice alongside her teammates.
With the help of the athletic trainers, Brady adjusted her training to accommodate her healing foot. Using the SwimEx machine, a stationary bike and a specialized exercise plan, she continued working on her cardio and fitness while keeping weight off her leg.
She still searched for something to fill the void.
Assistant coach Rance Brown concocted a solution for the resilient sophomore.
With Brady perched on a stool with a racket in hand, he would toss her tennis balls, allowing her to work on her stroke without aggravating her fracture.
“Coach Rance was out here in the morning and stays after just to feed me balls,” Brady said. “He helped me get better just by keeping me practicing.”
After being medically cleared for competition, Brady said she eagerly returned to the court, giving the Bruins another weapon for the postseason.
“Jenny brings the heat and firepower for us,“ said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “It’s exciting being able to see her train again because she has such a huge impact on this team.”
However, the extended layoff from tennis created new problems in her game. Without match play, Brady lacked the mental toughness and quick reflexes that earned her a 39-8 singles record and All-American honors last season.
Against USC with the Pac-12 title at stake, she squandered a set lead before falling 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. In the Pac-12 championships the following week, the defending champion was unable to piece together another title run, crashing out in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-0.
Unfazed, the rejuvenated sophomore said she recognizes that each match prepares her for her ultimate goal.
With a chance to help her team defend their NCAA title, Brady sees an opportunity to end this season on her own terms.
Boot or no boot, she’ll find a way onto the courts alongside her teammates in Waco, Texas.