Australian Open: British underdog Jodie Burrage vows to take Coco Gauff to Rod Laver Arena | Tennis news
British outsider Jodie Burrage vowed to “take it” to “the best player in the world” after taking center charge in the night session at Rod Laver Arena for her match against third seed Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.
Burrage was emotional at the end first round win over Leolia Jeanjean on Monday after considering retirement at the end of last season as she battled back from wrist and ankle injuries.
The 25-year-old already has experience of some of the sport’s biggest stages, having narrowly lost to Daria Kasatkina on Center Court at Wimbledon in 2023 before losing 6-3 6-2 to Arya Sabalenka at the US Open.
“I’ve never even hit Rod Laver before,” Burrage said Sky Sports ahead of the second round match against former US Open Gauff, scheduled for 8 am UK time on Wednesday.
“I’ve played Coco before and she’s arguably the best player in the world right now so it’s going to be a very, very tough match.
“I’m the underdog and I’m taking that stance in the match and I’m taking the stance that I’m going to take it. I’m going to see what I can do. try to make her as uncomfortable as possible.
“I’m just really excited. Everyone loves an underdog.”
In February, Burrage needed surgery on a ruptured tendon in her wrist – the fourth operation of her career – and suffered another blow in April as she prepared to return to competitive activity when she ruptured an ankle ligament in training with Katie Boulter, forcing her to miss another 10 weeks.
“It’s just not easy to deal with,” Burrage said. “It was a really tough year. I didn’t know how much more fight I had to give to the sport.
“But it’s a crazy sport and it can change very, very quickly. That’s what’s kept me going, really, knowing it can change quickly.”
Draper: The audience will bring out the best in me
Jack Draper expects a hostile crowd to get the best of him when he faces home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, scheduled for the night session at John Cain Arena.
Draper went through the first round match against Argentinian Mariano Navone in five setswith rust showing after his preparations were interrupted by a hip injury that made it difficult for him to walk.
“It will definitely bring out the best in me,” he said. “I think it will be a very good atmosphere.
“Whether the crowd is with me or against me, I remember what it was like to play Futures (tournaments) without anyone watching. That’s what I play for, to play in front of a lot of people and have fun.”
Kokkinakis produced one of the most memorable Australian Open matches in recent memory against Andy Murray two years ago, with the Scot somehow coming back from two sets down before winning the nearly six-hour contest at 4.05am.
Draper has also had close bouts against the 28-year-old, albeit never in Australia before, but he will not be looking to his countryman for advice, with Murray concentrating on his new job coaching Novak Djokovic.
“I think Andy is too focused on Novak, but I watched that match,” Draper said. “I know Thanasi will give his all here in Melbourne. He always brings great tennis so it will be a really tough match.
“We always have a battle so I’m fully prepared and ready for it. I’ll have to improve my performance and I think it’s a big opportunity to do that.”
Question marks also surround the fitness of Kokkinakis, who pulled out of his home tournament in Adelaide last week and then picked up a leg problem in his first-round match in Melbourne.
While Murray appears to be off limits, Draper could be talking to his old friend Jacob Fearnleywho on his debut handled one of the most challenging tasks at Melbourne Park with aplomb by defeating Nick Kyrgios.
Draper turned pro as a teenager while Fearnley decided to go to college in the United States, but he has wasted no time making his mark since leaving Texas last spring and can forge a new path when he faces unseeded Frenchman Arthur Cazaux on Wednesday.
‘Fearnley will have a great career’
Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend said: “Fearnley he handled the Nick Kyrgios circus welleven as Kyrgios ran the show, pulling off tricks and creating a minor comeback in the third set.
“The more and more I see of Fearnley, the more I think he will have a stellar career as a top 100 player.
“How far will he go? It’s too early to say. He’s so fresh in his professional career but we have this thing in Britain where if you’re going to have a player in the top 100, you expect top 20 or top 10.
“We seem to be good at producing world-class players like Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu, but maybe not so good at producing the top, top players who mix with the elite every year at the top of the game.
“I see in Fearnley all the qualities you need for that. He’s going to have a great career. He’s going to be in the top 100 in the world for a few years.”
Harriet Dartthe fourth British player in action on Wednesday, only found out she had been awarded a place in the draw as a lucky loser hours before her match against Jane Fett, which she finally won after more than three hours despite cramping and a calf problem.
The 28-year-old will hope to have recovered in time for her clash with 18th seed Donna Vekic.
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