Brady said he slept more than usual during the 14 days, often waking up around 11 am. She trained twice a day, at noon and around 5 pm, Brady’s trainer, Michael Geserer, said that although Brady used tennis balls, an exercise bike and weights, his most important job was mental.
“We were unable to simulate the practice on the court, but we tried as best as we could to adapt to this new situation,” said Geserer. “The most important thing was the mentality. We were not complaining. We were taking it. “
Geserer said he admired Brady’s positive attitude.
“She has bad days, but she tries to make the most of her bad days,” he said. “This is also important in matches: you are not going to play your best tennis, but she tries to find a way to win.”
For Brady, who rose through the ranks last season by winning his first WTA title and reaching the US Open semifinals, the forced confinement proved to be a welcome break.
“Coming out of quarantine, speaking for myself, I was definitely a lot more mentally refreshed,” said Brady. “It was a long year for me last year. I didn’t really take a break. Basically, I was a little lucky to have spent the 14 days in blockade. It kind of helped me to redefine mentally – and physically, too. “
As she resumed physical activity when the quarantine ended, Brady was relieved by the way she felt on the court.
“The first two strokes I had, I was trying to feel the ball, and just feel the court and move, not trying to overdo it because I didn’t want to risk an injury,” said Brady. “I was scared of getting super sore, which I really wasn’t.”