Jennifer Brady's All-Court Game: Getting to know one of the pillars of American tennis like never before

I first spoke to Jennifer Brady last year during her hard quarantine in Australia. After watching her rise through the ranks and give Naomi Osaka all she could handle in the 2020 US Open semifinal, I wasn't sure what to expect from the UCLA alumna. But that conversation revealed what a lot of us have learned over the past few years in watching Brady's transition from solid tour-level player to legitimate major contender: she has no shortage of personality.

The girl known as "Jenny" to all who adore her joined the Tennis Channel family for a week as an analyst, her first foray into sports broadcasting. We discussed the new role on Tennis Channel's "Inside-In," where like many, she quickly learned how much hard work goes into being on this side of the broadcast. "It's been an eye-opening experience," Brady admitted. "It takes time to get used to it, to be on a live set to talk about the players and all these tournaments that are going on at the same time. It's not easy."

Brady's meteoric rise had little to do with luck and everything to do with hard work. The pride and joy of Harrisburg, Pa. trained manically to breakthrough and reach new heights. But after planter fasciitis put her roll on hold, she came to the sobering realization that she over-trained. "Yes you have to train hard, but you don't have to do the amount that was doing, that's for sure."

At 26 years of age, Brady is still primed to rattle off many more big wins in between the lines. But as I learned through the course of our conversation, she is thoroughly enjoying the ride of a lifetime. From representing the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics, to the fun times at friend Jessica Pegula's wedding.

"I was on stage three times and it wasn't even my wedding!" Brady tells Tennis Channel.

Brady opened up in a way that many fans have not heard from her before. One thing seems abundantly clear, and that is this major finalist is not done blossoming. On this week's episode, she perfectly illustrates why nobody doubts her and everybody seems to love her.