She should start getting used to the extra attention. With her career-high ranking and a number of US Open withdrawals, Brady has earned a Grand Slam seeding for the first time. The milestone has been made into an even bigger deal with seeded players getting their own suites as private lounges in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to have a suite now. So really excited and happy about that," she said, adding that she has lunch in her suite and can see other players in their respective suites and watch whoever is practicing.
After playing Charleston, World TeamTennis and Lexington, Brady is accustomed to the "bubble life". She'll play both the Western & Southern Open and US Open in the New York bubble.
"It’s pretty cool walking around the grounds with no fans," she said. "It’s nice it doesn’t take as long to get from Point A to Point B."
The American said the biggest difference is wearing a mask 24/7 except for during workouts or practice, or while eating. That rule applies to the site and the hotel, where the bubble literally has "walls".
"At the hotel they have two little blockade areas that say if you cross this line you will be withdrawn from the tournament," she said. "So I highly doubt anyone will be crossing that line."
She’ll open Sunday against qualifier Jessica Pegula.
