Resurgence has been a familiar theme to the start of the 2026 season and now a former Australian Open finalist has joined the conversation.
This has included former US Open champion Sloane Stephens ending her 13-match losing streak to qualify for the Australian Open.
Stephens was unable to win any matches in the main draw, as she lost her first round match to former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who won her first Grand Slam match since 2024.
Pliskova is coming back from an ankle issue, and now another top player has just won her first match since 2023 after returning from a serious injury.
Jennifer Brady wins her first tennis match since 2023
Jennifer Brady reached the Australian Open singles final in 2021, where she was beaten by Naomi Osaka.
However, the American, who has a career-high singles ranking of world number 13, had only played 12 matches since 2021.
During this time, Brady has undergone two knee surgeries, with her most recent taking place after she played her last match at the 2023 China Open.
How would you solve the tennis injury crisis?
Brady intended to return for Australian Open qualifying, but admitted that she was not quite ready to make her comeback.
However, just a couple of weeks later, Brady has played her first match in over two years at the ITF 100k event in San Diego.
In her first match back, Brady was able to beat Serbian Katarina Jokic, 6-4 0-6 6-3, to win her first match since October 2023.
Who is going to win the women’s Australian Open title?
Where could Jennifer Brady be ranked after her first tournament back?
Due to her lengthy absence from tennis, Brady is now an unranked player and is playing at the ITF event in San Diego after receiving a wildcard.
Brady now has the opportunity to make her way back up the rankings this week, and is already confirmed to return to the top 1200 in the WTA rankings.
If she is able to make a dream return to competition and win the title, Brady could even climb to as high as the top 600.
| Stage of tournament | Ranking points on offer in San Diego | Jennifer Brady’s Potential ranking |
| First Round | 1 | Unranked |
| Second Round | 12 | Top 1200 |
| Quarterfinal | 21 | Top 1000 |
| Semifinal | 39 | Top 900 |
| Final | 65 | Top 700 |
| Champion | 100 | Top 600 |
Brady will look to return to the top 1000 when she plays her second round match against either Kayla Day or Katie Swan.
Regardless of how well Brady does for the rest of the week in San Diego, she does have the assurance of a protected ranking of world number 222.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
