Tennis star vows NEVER to train with UK No.1 Katie Boulter again - 'I still have PTSD'
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Jodie Burrage claims she has PTSD from practicing with fellow Brit Katie Boulter and will avoid doing it. Burrage is playing at her first Grand Slam for 12 months and will be joined at the Australian Open by Boulter, the British No 1. The duo are good friends but Burrage has picked up some nasty injuries when Boulter's been on the other side of the net.
She had wrist surgery early last year before an ankle injury extended her absence to six months with one of her injuries coming after she tried to chase down a drop shot. Burrage was not joking around when she admitted she would avoid going through the motions with her compatriot.
The 25-year-old said: “I still have PTSD every time I run for a drop shot. I am not practising with Katie ever again. Every time I’m on the practice court with her, I hurt myself. Genuine. I fractured my knee against her. Done my ankle.”. Burrage was beaten in the first round in Melbourne last year with her best effort at a Grand Slam being her second round appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open. She will begin her tournament against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean.
Boulter meanwhile made the second round in Australia last year and has gone as far as the third round at previous Grand Slams. Now 28, she's proved she can challenge the top players and took a set off Iga Swiatek in a recent defeat with her belief growing.
She said: “My belief is growing every single day the more matches I play like that (vs Swiatek)”, she said. "I believe I’m at that level and I can be that every day. Now it’s about making sure I’m playing at that level each week and I think the physicality that I’ve brought to my game will become more consistent. Hopefully it will help me become steadier all year round.
