Brienne Minor

Brienne Alexandra Minor (born November 25, 1997) is an American tennis player currently playing for the University of Michigan. On May 29, 2017, she won the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships, becoming the first African-American woman to win the singles title.[2][3] This victory also secured Minor a spot in the main draw of the 2017 US Open as a wild-card.[4]

Brienne Minor
Country (sports) United States
Born (1997-11-25) November 25, 1997
Mundelein, Illinois, United States
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CollegeUniversity of Michigan
Prize money$50,000
Singles
Career record2–10
Highest rankingNo. 917 (September 11, 2017)
Current rankingNo. 917 (September 11, 2017)
Grand Slam Singles results
US Open1R (2017)
Doubles
Career record2–6
Highest rankingNo. 957 (September 11, 2017)
Current rankingNo. 957 (September 11, 2017)
Last updated on: September 11, 2017.

Early life and college career

Minor was raised in Mundelein, Illinois.[5] She began playing tennis at the age of four. Minor attended Carmel High School and during her senior year at Carmel, she went undefeated during the season, winning a state championship in the process.[6][7] On November 13, 2014, she signed her national letter of intent to play collegiate tennis at the University of Michigan.[8] Minor had been ranked as the 15th best recruit in the country.

During her first season with the Wolverines, Minor finished with a 36-10 record.[6] Her performance earned her spots in both the National Collegiate Athletic Association singles and doubles tournaments. She earned all-Big Ten and ITA All-American honors at the end of the season.[6]

Minor capped off her sophomore season by winning the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's singles title, the first in Michigan's history.[3] Minor defeated the Florida's Belinda Woolcock in the final. She was also the first African-American woman to accomplish this feat and the first black athlete to win a singles title since Arthur Ashe in 1965.[3] As is tradition with American NCAA champions, Minor received a wild-card entry into the 2017 US Open. Minor was also named ITA All-American for the second straight year.[9]

In her grand slam singles debut at the 2017 US Open, Minor lost to Ons Jabeur 1–6, 5–7.

Personal life

Brienne's parents are Kevin and Michelle Minor.[5] She has two older sisters named Jasmine and Kristina. Minor is majoring in sports management.[6] As a big fan of pop singer Beyoncé, Minor received the nickname "Briyoncé," from best friend Caroline Nonnenmacher.[10]

gollark: What of it? Human brains are very glitchy.
gollark: I have ominous "oh bee a thing is behind me" feelings sometimes. However, this is not actually *true*.
gollark: It's evidence, sure, but weak.
gollark: The feeling of something is very different to a thing, though.
gollark: Did you know? An invisible swarm of bees is behind you.

References

  1. http://www.tennisrecruiting.net/player/highlights.asp?id=628523
  2. "DI Women's Tennis Championship: Michigan's Brienne Minor takes singles title". NCAA.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. Wallace, Ava. "She became the first black woman to win an NCAA Division I singles title, and she had no idea". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. "Brienne Minor is Michigan's first national champ in tennis". detroitnews.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  5. Bembry, Jerry. "Michigan's Brienne Minor announces arrival with NCAA tennis title". theundefeated.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  6. "Michigan Wolverines Bio". mgoblue.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. McGraw, Patricia Babcock (June 3, 2017). "Carmel grad cherishing her Cinderella tennis story". dailyherald.com. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  8. "Michigan Inks Trio to NLIs for 2015-16 Season". mgoblue.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  9. "Fahey, Minor Honored as ITA All-Americans". mgoblue.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  10. Kerr, Jon J. "Carmel graduate Brienne Minor wins NCAA singles title at Michigan". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
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