Jodie Burrage vindicated in decision to fight for career after Wimbledon win

Tennis365
Jodie Burrage smiles after a win

Jodie Burrage feared she would have to give up her tennis career three years ago – but now she is celebrating a first Wimbledon win.

Burrage, 24, contemplated hanging up her racket and going to university instead after undergoing a third ankle operation.

But a 6-1 6-3 win over American Caty McNally – her maiden success at SW19 after consecutive first-round exits – has likely catapulted the British wild card into the top 100 for the first time.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries throughout my career, and a lot of people telling me that I couldn’t get to the top, that I wouldn’t be a player when I was younger,” she said.

“After my third ankle operation, my mind had decided that that was it. That was my tennis career done.

“But I somehow got back on the horse with help from family and friends, and my boyfriend as well, that really helped push through that not-so-nice time.

“To sit here saying I’ve won my first round at Wimbledon, hopefully going to be in the top 100 in two weeks, I was not expecting that, but I’m very happy that it’s happened.”

McNally was clearly hindered by a problem with her right thigh, which was heavily strapped, and Burrage broke her three times as she wrapped up the first set in only 22 minutes.

The world number 67 received treatment at the changeover and instantly improved, forcing a break after Burrage stopped to challenge a call which had clearly hit the baseline.

Jodie Burrage hits a backhand on her way to victory (Victoria Jones/PA)


“I wasn’t happy with myself at all at that call but sometimes stuff like that happens. Unfortunately it was on a break point,” she added.

“But I think actually that fired me up a little bit. I was obviously annoyed with myself, but I used it in a positive way. ”

Burrage hit back with a double break, and converted a match point at the sixth time of asking to book a second-round meeting with 11th seed Daria Kasatkina.

Wimbledon results

Wimbledon results on Monday, the first day of the 2023 tournament at the All England Club (x denotes seeding; players representing Russia and Belarus are banned from competing under the name or flag of their countries):

Men

1st rd

Oscar Otte (GER) bt Dominik Koepfer (GER) 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9)

Mikael Ymer (SWE) bt Alex Molcan (SVK) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-3, 7-5, 7-5

Liam Broady (GBR) bt Constant Lestienne (FRA) 6-1, 6-3, 7-5

Casper Ruud (NOR x4) bt Laurent Lokoli (FRA) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3

Andrey Rublev (x7) bt Max Purcell (AUS) 6-3, 7-5, 6-4

Aslan Karatsev bt Luca Van Assche (FRA) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

Marcelo Barrios (CHI) bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2)

David Goffin (BEL) bt Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0

J.J. Wolf (USA) bt Enzo Couacaud (FRA) 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)

Maximilian Marterer (GER) bt Borna Gojo (CRO) 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-4

Michael Mmoh (USA) bt Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x11) 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4

Lorenzo Musetti (ITA x14) bt Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

Jaume Munar (ESP) bt John Isner (USA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

Jan Choinski (GBR) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2

Hubert Hurkacz (POL x17) bt Albert Ramos Vinolas (ESP) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

Jordan Thompson (AUS) bt Brandon Nakashima (USA) 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3

Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Pedro Cachín (ARG) 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)

Women

1st rd

Iga Swiatek (POL x1) bt Zhu Lin (CHN) 6-1, 6-3

Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) bt Martina Trevisan (ITA) 6-3, 6-1

Diane Parry (FRA) bt Harriet Dart (GBR) 6-7 (4/7), 6-0, 6-4

Petra Martic (CRO x30) bt Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 4-1 – retired

Magda Linette (POL x23) bt Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-3, 6-2

Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Maryna Zanevska (BEL) 6-1, 7-5

Belinda Bencic (SUI x14) bt Katie Swan (GBR) 7-5, 6-2

Daria Kasatkina (x11) bt Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1, 6-4

Jodie Burrage (GBR) bt Caty McNally (USA) 6-1, 6-3

Nadia Podoroska (ARG) bt Tereza Martincova (CZE) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4

Victoria Azarenka (x19) bt Yuan Yue (CHN) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Elise Mertens (BEL x28) bt Viktória Kužmová (SVK) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2

Elina Svitolina (UKR) bt Venus Williams (USA) 6-4, 6-3

Wang Xinyu (CHN) bt Storm Sanders (AUS) 6-3, 6-1

Jessica Pegula (USA x4) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 6-2, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3

Cristina Bucsa (ESP) bt Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11/9)

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) bt Claire Liu (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Alycia Parks (USA) bt Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) 6-4, 6-3

Ana Bogdan (ROM) bt Liudmila Samsonova (x15) 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/4)

Veronika Kudermetova (x12) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4

Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Peyton Stearns (USA) 6-2, 7-5

Leylah Fernandez (CAN) bt Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Caroline Garcia (FRA x5) bt Katie Volynets (USA) 6-4, 6-3

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