British star bursts into tears after Australian Open victory after nearly quitting tennis
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Jodie Burrage was left in tears after securing her first Australian Open main-draw victory - shortly after the Brit considered retiring after a horrid run of injuries. The 25-year-old claimed a 6-2 6-4 success over French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in Melbourne - six months after Burrage weighed up whether or not she should continue playing the sport. She was left crying "happy tears" after her victory Down Under.
Burrage hit 23 winners en route to beating Jeanjean, who is ranked 24 places higher than her, and her reward is a clash with American third seed Coco Gauff in the second round. She secured victory on her first match point and immediately sunk to the ground, covering her face with her hands. Burrage returned to her chair and spent a few moments crying under a towel after taking in the crowd's applause.
She said: "It was a good decision (not to retire). All of those emotions from the last nine months I think were bottled up in there. I think because I know I have been playing some good tennis, I know what such a good opportunity today was. I knew the hard work that went in for the last year.".
It was back in 2020 that Burrage first considered quitting tennis as she battled several injuries before fighting back to enjoy some landmark victories. A maiden Grand Slam win came at Wimbledon in 2023, later landing her an appearance on Centre Court in the second round. She also secured a win at that year's US Open.
That left her a career-high 84th in the world before her progress was derailed by injuries, once again. In February Burrage required surgery on a snapped tendon in her wrist - the fourth operation of her career. She then suffered another blow in April when she was closing in on a return to action.
