Jodie Burrage will have cried many tears during six torturous months of rehabilitation, but here were finally some happy tears at the happy Slam, with her first ever win at the Australian Open.
She defeated French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean 6-2, 6-4 and will face the mighty Coco Gauff in the next round on Wednesday.
With £34,000 and, more importantly, 60 valuable ranking points against a very beatable opponent, this was a huge opportunity for Burrage and she knew it. The 25-year-old even said friends and family were guilty of taking things for granted.
‘I had to send a few messages to my uncle saying, ‘I still have to win the competition! .
“I knew what a good opportunity today was. While playing the (lower) ITFs and everything I did, I just said: I want to go to Australia, I know I will be good in Australia.
‘I didn’t really want to pass up this opportunity today.
“All those emotions of the last nine months, I think, yeah, were bottled up in there and eventually… it would always come out at some point. Just very happy. One of the best wins of my career.’
Jodie Burrage (above) recorded her first ever win at the Australian Open, beating Leolia Jeanjean
The Brit No. 7 has booked her place in the second round and will take on the mighty Coco Gauff
Victorious Burrage couldn’t hide her emotions, which took over after six torturous months of rehabilitation
Last February, Burrage broke a tendon in her right wrist and after completing her rehabilitation well ahead of schedule, she tore an ankle ligament during training with Katie Boulter.
She was out for a total of six months and, worst of all, the first injury occurred just after she reached a career-high ranking of 86.
During the darkest moments of rehabilitation, Burrage considered quitting the sport, but she is driven by the desire to prove she can consistently be a top-100 player. With this victory she should rise to around 150 in the world rankings from 173rd place.
Those tough times have given her a lot of perspective, which can be a powerful force in professional sports. Despite the nerves – “I can’t eat this, this isn’t going to happen,” she told fellow Brit Olivia Nicholls over breakfast – Burrage waved the freedom of someone happy to be here.
“It was definitely one of the best wins of my career,” she said. ‘It’s just the beginning. I have more faith and confidence in myself and that showed today. I feel like this is the start of a good year for me.”
Gauff looms at number three, their second meeting after the American defeated Burrage 6-1, 6-1 at Eastbourne in 2023.
“Honestly, I kind of know what I want to do,” Burrage said. ‘I learned a lot from my last match. It’s just about the execution. But I just want to go out there and enjoy it and push her.”
After six months of rehabilitation and four months through lower level events, you get the sense that Burrage is enjoying every moment in the promised land of Grand Slam tennis.
Burrage, 25, triumphed over French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean (above) 6-2, 6-4 in Melbourne
Brit No. 4 Harriet Dart battled injuries and cramps to book her place in the second round
Meanwhile, Brit No. 4 Harriet Dart battled through injuries and cramps to earn her place in the second round of the Australian Open in grueling fashion.
Dart lost in the final qualifying round but was given a lucky loser spot on Monday morning after former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew.
She came into an almost direct collision with Croatian qualifier Jana Fett and after three hours and fourteen minutes she limped her way to a 7-5 2-6 7-6 (10/7) victory.
Dart had her left calf taped early in the second set and fought back tears during the decisive tiebreak, which also included cramps.
But she only crossed the line for her second main draw win at Melbourne Park and first in five years.
Dart came from 3-5 behind to win the opening set in a match that featured 19 service breaks and saw each woman win 118 points.
But her physical problems became apparent when she called the trainer for long-term treatment on her calf and neck while trailing 2-3 in the second set.
Fett appeared to be in control at that point, but Dart continued to fight and broke serve twice to stay in the match, the second time saving two match points – one of them with an ill-timed double fault from the Croat.
Despite clearly struggling, Dart limped to victory, narrowly winning 7-5 2-6 7-6 (10/7)
Dart came from 3-5 down to win the opening set against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett (above)
Dart opened a 7-1 lead in the tiebreak and although things became increasingly complicated, she refused to let that lead slip despite her obvious physical problems.
She will now try to recover in time for a second-round clash with 18th seed Donna Vekic on Wednesday.