Jennifer Brady Stops Coco Gauff’s Run at Top Seed Open to Reach First WTA Final, Faces Jil Teichmann
(August 15, 2020) American Jennifer Brady, 25 reached her first ever WTA Tour level final on Saturday when she bested the up-and-coming Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky in 71 minutes.
“I’ve been working really hard since the beginning of the year,” said the world No. 49 in her on-court interview. “I’ve been putting in a lot of hours on the practice courts and in the gym, and hopefully, everything just falls into place.”
“Reaching a final at any tournament, I think, is a great opportunity. I’ve given myself the best opportunity, and hopefully, I come out and play well tomorrow.”
“Jenny just played a great match, and I can take away a lot from this week in general. I couldn’t have asked for a better week back,” said the 16-year-old Gauff. “I feel like today was the best that I was striking my forehand all week, so that’s something I can take away from this.”
“Her serve is great. She hits her targets really well. In particular today, she was hitting both her serves pretty well. I was just trying to get them back in the court, but it didn’t work out. She’s definitely Top 5 on my list [of servers on tour], at least of people I’ve played so far.”
“To be honest Jen just played a great match. I can take away a lot from this week in general. I learned a lot. I couldn’t ask for a better first week back. The whole goal is just to be in the prime for the US Open and I think that these are good stepping stones.”
Brady moves into the final having not dropped a set.
She’ll face another woman in the final who has not dropped a set during the week in Jil Teichman, 23, of Switzerland. The Swiss southpaw stopped Shelby Rogers in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
“I’ve played Jil quite a few times, Brady said. “I think we know each other’s game styles very well and I think it’ll be a good match.”
“I actually enjoy playing lefties. They have their serve, and I don’t mind the serve on the ad-side, when it’s coming wide,” Brady said. “sometimes they’re predictable.”
Teichmann will be going for her third WTA title on Sunday. Both of her previous titles came on clay courts. “I’ve been feeling great on hardcourts since the beginning of the year, and I was starting to have results, so I was on the right way,” she said. “But all this coronavirus pandemic made it stop, and same for everyone.”
The Swiss’ previous titles came in Palermo and Prague.
Not only is Teichamnn in the singles final, she’s in the doubles final as well. She’s partnering with Marie Bouzkova.
