Madison Brengle pulled a stunner Wednesday at Wimbledon, ousting two-time champion and one of the pre-tournament favorites Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, to advance to the third round of a major for the fourth time in her career – and the first time at Wimbledon.
Here’s five quick notes on this 27-year-old American:
- Brengle had never won a main-draw match at Wimbledon prior to this year, but she has had success at the All England Club in the past, reaching the girls’ singles final in 2007. (In the title match, she lost to Urszula Radwanska, sister of 2012 Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka.)
- The Dover, Del., product was a standout junior, rising to No. 4 in the world junior rankings. In addition to her run to the Wimbledon junior final, she reached the final at the 2007 Australian Open juniors and won that year’s Astrid Bowl in singles and International Spring Championships in doubles.
- Brengle made headlines earlier this year when she defeated Serena Williams in Auckland. During a changeover, she was filmed joking with her coach: “If I’m actually hitting, I feel like she’s like, ‘Oh, this is nice,’ and then she hits a winner. So, maybe, [I should play] even worse. Because I feel like she’s surprised at how bad I am.” Click here for the exchange.
- After years battling it out on the USTA Pro Circuit, Brengle broke into the Top 100 in 2014. She finished at No. 40 in the world in 2015 (just off her career-best rank of No. 35) and No. 74 a year ago. She entered Wimbledon ranked 95th.
- Brengle’s professional breakthrough came at the 2015 Australian Open, when she upset Andrea Petkovic and CoCo Vandeweghe en route to the fourth round. She also reached the third round at that year’s US Open and again at the 2016 Australian Open.
