Martin Blackman on Jennifer Brady's Australian Open run

“When we see an American player have a breakthrough, have a good result, we’re all high-fiving and texting and jumping up and down. It really means a lot for us, this is way more than just a job for us."

The Australian Open has been one for the history books and Martin Blackman joins the show to help put things in perspective. He's the general manager of player development at the USTA and has a lot to be proud of this month. 

It’s an exciting time for the USTA with 18 American women inside of the Top 100. Though the men haven’t fared as well Down Under, it’s still been a breakthrough fortnight for former UCLA Bruin Mackenzie McDonald as he made the fourth round. Blackman shares how, soon after his arrival, the USTA adapted to better support emerging college players.

He has relished in seeing three American women make the Australian Open quarterfinals, Serena Williams, Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula (another American, Shelby Rogers, reached the fourth round). Brady, also a former Bruin, and Serena would advance to the semifinals, with Serena losing to Naomi Osaka and Brady topping Karolina Muchova to appear in her first career Grand Slam final.

Brady trained at the USTA National Campus for three years before she began working with German coach Michael Geserer in 2019. Blackman and the USTA are still on hand to support the 25-year-old with anything she needs, and even hopped on Zoom to give her some tips during her 14-day hard lockdown. As is to be expected, Blackman has only great things to say about Brady and her team.

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