Brienne Minor facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | November 25, 1997 Mundelein, Illinois, United States |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| College | University of Michigan |
| Prize money | $53,076 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 6–16 |
| Highest ranking | No. 907 (September 25, 2017) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open | 1R (2017) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 8–9 |
| Highest ranking | No. 954 (September 18, 2017) |
Brienne Alexandra Minor was born on November 25, 1997. She is an American tennis player. Brienne played college tennis at the University of Michigan. On May 29, 2017, she won a big championship. It was the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Singles title. This made her the first African-American woman to win this specific singles championship. Winning also gave Brienne a special entry into the main part of the 2017 US Open tennis tournament.
Brienne Minor's Early Life and College Tennis Journey
Brienne Minor grew up in Mundelein, Illinois. She started playing tennis when she was only four years old. Brienne went to Carmel High School. In her last year there, she had a perfect season. She won a state championship without losing any matches.
On November 13, 2014, Brienne officially decided to play college tennis. She signed with the University of Michigan. Experts had ranked her as the 15th best new player in the country.
Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
In her first year with the Michigan Wolverines team, Brienne had a great record. She won 36 matches and lost only 10. Her strong playing earned her spots in two important tournaments. These were the National Collegiate Athletic Association singles and doubles tournaments. At the end of that season, she received special honors. She was named All-Big Ten and ITA All-American.
Brienne finished her second year by winning the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's singles title. This was the first time a player from Michigan had won this championship. Brienne beat Florida's player, Belinda Woolcock, in the final match. She was also the first African-American woman to win this title. In fact, she was the first black athlete to win a singles title since Arthur Ashe in 1965.
As is the tradition for American NCAA champions, Brienne received a special entry. She got a wildcard spot into the 2017 US Open. Brienne was also named an ITA All-American for the second year in a row.
In her first big singles match at the 2017 US Open, Brienne played against Ons Jabeur. Brienne lost the match in two straight sets.
Brienne Minor's Personal Life
Brienne's parents are Kevin and Michelle Minor. She has two older sisters named Jasmine and Kristina. Brienne is studying sports management in college. She is a big fan of the pop singer Beyoncé. Because of this, her best friend Caroline Nonnenmacher gave her a fun nickname: "Briyoncé."
