Madison Brengle played (and lost) in her first professional tennis tournament in 2004 when she was a 14-year-old amateur. Three years later, the Dover native became a full-time professional player. Today, Brengle is ranked #49 in the world (WTA) and is playing in her fourth Australian Open in Melbourne!

The 25-year-old right-hander returned to the 2016 Aussie Open determined to improve on her Round of 16 finish in last year’s Grand Slam event.

Brengle got off to a great start on January 19th by defeating fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-4.

Madison Brengle Tennis

Madison’s parents, Dan and Gaby, still live in Dover and follow their daughter with understandable interest. According to Gaby, Madison travels the international circuit primarily on her own. Brengle spends part of her offseason training at IMG in Florida and the rest in Dover, where she assists Gaby, a longtime coach at Dover Indoor Tennis.

Gaby Brengle is a member of the Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame, so “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” in this tennis family.

“She’s worked really hard,” Gaby Brengle said. “I don’t think she’s done getting better.”

Madison’s best tournament result was in the 2015 Hobart International. She lost the final to Heather Watson (UK) 3-6, 4-6, but gained confidence from the experience.

“I’ve worked on [being] a little bit more effective on my service games. It used to be something people could pick on. I don’t feel like it’s that anymore,” Brengle said.

Brengle is also currently playing doubles with Tatjana Maria and hopes she and her partner can make a nice tournament run “Down Under.”

Closer to home, Brengle was also a key member of the 2015 World Team Tennis champion Washington Kastles! It was Brengle who clinched championship point, putting away a swinging backhand volley against French Open quarterfinalist and world #20 Elina Svitolina of the Austin Aces.

Madison Brengle Washington Kastles 2015

Brengle went toe to toe with Svitolina through six games, claiming a pair of 3-all deciding points, the second of which tied the set at 3-3 and protected Washington’s overall lead at 23-16.

After Svitolina held for 4-3, Brengle faced another 3-all point on her serve, but this time she netted a backhand, snapping an incredible a 16-set winning streak for Washington in the Mylan WTT Finals dating back to 2012.

Though Austin won the set 5-3, Washington held a 23-18 advantage entering extended play. All Brengle needed was one game to clinch the match. Svitolina needed five to force a Supertiebreaker.

The pressure on both players in the emotionally charged stadium was palpable as the 20-year-old Ukrainian missed a pair of forehands on the first two points of extended play. Brengle hit a poor drop shot to lose the next point, but prevailed in an extended rally on the next point when she crushed a crosscourt forehand winner to give her a 3-1 lead in the game. With three championship points, Brengle only needed one, attacking the net and putting away a swinging backhand volley that brought all of Kastles Stadium to its feet in jubilation.

Brengle’s teammates fled their bench and mobbed the 25-year-old at mid-court, celebrating the continuation of one of the most impressive dynasties in all of professional sports.

2015 WTT Champion Washington Kastles

Let’s hope Madison’s tennis successes continue!

MADISON BRENGLE BIOGRAPHY

Coached by mother, Gaby Brengle … Father’s name is Dan; brother’s name is David (also plays tennis) … Baseliner whose favorite shot is backhand and whose favorite surface is grass … Began playing at age 2 when mother introduced her to the sport … Also plays volleyball; enjoys skim boarding … Favorite color is pink … Favorite type of music is rock; favorite artist is Steely Dan … Favorite movie is Lord of the Rings … Favorite city to visit is Miami. See more, visit Madison Brengle at WTATennis.com