Summary:
- Jodie Burrage secured her first Australian Open main-draw win, defeating Leolia Jeanjean 6-2, 6-4.
- Lucky loser entry Harriet Dart triumphed in a three-hour match, defeating Croatian qualifier Jana Fett 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7).
- Jack Draper overcame a two-sets-to-one deficit to defeat Mariano Navone 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Jodie Burrage celebrated a milestone moment at the 2025 Australian Open, earning her first main-draw victory at the tournament that started on January 12 and will end on January 26 just months after nearly stepping away from tennis.
The 25-year-old Brit overcame French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, at Melbourne Park.
“It Was a Good Decision ”
For Burrage, ranked 173rd in the world, the win was a culmination of her resilience after enduring multiple injuries and a six-month absence last year.
Reflecting on her journey, she admitted to questioning whether she had “any fight” left but credited her passion for tennis as the reason she persevered.
“It was a good decision [not to retire]”, Jodie Burrage said with a smile, visibly emotional after the win.
Burrage’s aggressive style and powerful groundstrokes proved too much for Jeanjean, with her forehand delivering 23 winners.
The match ended dramatically on a net cord that secured victory on her first match point.
Overwhelmed, Burrage covered her face, sobbed into a towel, and soaked in the roaring cheers from the crowd.
This victory propels the 25-year-old from Kingston-upon-Thames into a highly anticipated second-round match against American third seed Coco Gauff.
Burrage’s path to success has been riddled with challenges. Her injury setbacks began in 2020 and continued through 2023, with wrist and ankle surgeries sidelining her for months.
At her lowest, she broke down during a training session, questioning if her efforts were worth it.
However, her determination led to a maiden Grand Slam win at Wimbledon 2023, followed by another at the US Open.
Harriet Dart Claims Hard-Fought Victory
On Monday, Harriet Dart also claimed a hard-fought victory. Initially entering the tournament as a lucky loser after 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew, Dart battled for over three hours to defeat Croatian qualifier Jana Fett 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7).
The 28-year-old Londoner, who saved two match points in a tension-filled deciding set, appeared physically drained as she left the court.
Her next challenge will be 18th seed Donna Vekic.
Jack Draper Edges Past Mariano Navone
Elsewhere, British number one Jack Draper has advanced to the second round of the Australian Open after enduring a grueling four-hour, five-set test of his endurance and resilience on Monday.
In the scorching conditions, the 23-year-old born in Sutton showcased remarkable fortitude, battling back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to secure a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory against Mariano Navone.
British former player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Ken Skupski commented on the Brit’s win, saying he “will take a lot of confidence” from it, adding he will need to “do a lot of work” to recover from the tiring match.
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