Jennifer Brady expecting another lengthy layoff from tennis after needing right knee surgery

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) —Jennifer Brady, who reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the Australian Open in 2021, is expected to be out of action for another extended period while she recovers from further surgery on her right knee.

The 28-year-old Brady returned to the tour last August after two years away having suffered a knee injury in Cincinnati in 2021, seven months after she made the final in Melbourne.

Brady revealed the news on social media on Wednesday night in the U.S.

"While it hasn't been easy dealing with injuries and taking time off at the peak of my tennis career, I was grateful and happy to be back competing at the highest level again during the U.S. swing and end of last year," she wrote on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter.

"I wanted to let everyone know unfortunately during (the) offseason I had another setback and I'll be having surgery on my knee. With this surgery I'll be out for quite some time as the recovery and rehab process is quite extensive."

When she returned to the WTA Tour in Washington last year, Brady revealed how tough it had been being away, at times waking up in the middle of the night wondering if she would ever be able to play again.

The American said she will now go back to college to stay close to the game while she recovers.

"During this process I've decided to enrol back into UCLA for the spring quarter and help the women's tennis team by being an (under) graduate assistant coach," she wrote. "I'm bummed not to be competing during this time but I'm very excited to be part of the UCLA tennis team again.

"Thanks to everyone who's supported my journey on and off the court. I plan on being back ripping forehands soon."

Brady also reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open in 2020 and reached her career-best ranking of No. 13 in February 2021.