Know Your Bulldog: Janina Braun
November 05, 2018 | Women's Tennis
Fraternal twins can walk alike, talk alike and even think alike. Mississippi State women's tennis student-athlete Janina Braun says that her and her twin brother, MSU men's tennis student-athlete Niclas, play with twin-like style on the court.
It is no surprise that Janina plays with a like-minded style to her brother, as they have trained side-by-side their entire careers. At just three-years-old, the Berlin, Germany, natives found comfort in a racquet and a home on the court.
Janina and Niclas jumped into tennis very early, but the pair quickly grew a knack for the sport. Practices were limited to once or twice a week to start, but as the talent and passion for the game grew, so did the commitment.
At a very early age, Janina recalls that most six-week summer vacations were spent traveling with her family around Europe for international tournaments.
"It was unique. Other parents never did that," said Janina. "We never got tired of playing tennis because we never had pressure from our parents like others did. We did try to combine [tournaments] with holidays, too."
Janina illustrates trips with her parents and Niclas through countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain and France. For the Brauns, family was where sports were.
Janina's on-the-go upbringing seamlessly transitioned into her adult life, as she decided to take her talents to America for a shot on the collegiate tennis stage. Through her first season at Virginia Commonwealth, Janina worked her way through the ranks to hold the No. 1 slot on the squad as a newcomer, while leading the program to a conference title and NCAA Tournament bid.
The other half of the Braun duo had decided to further his tennis and academic career with the Bulldogs. Janina decided three semesters apart from her twin brother had been long enough. She decided to transfer her abilities to the Maroon and White, and she hasn't doubted her decision since.
"It's nice to be close to your family," said Janina. "My parents were so happy when they heard about the offer. There are so many advantages here."
Janina selflessly recalls, one of her favorite memories so far at MSU was watching her brother, alongside the rest of State's men's tennis squad, capture the SEC Tournament title in 2018.
From the beginning, Janina has had family by her side. For the rest of her MSU career, and beyond, the Braun twins will always be part of a bigger Bulldog family.
Players Mentioned
