Australian Open: British underdog Jodie Burrage vows to take it to Coco Gauff in second round of women’s singles | Tennis News

British underdog Jodie Burrage has vowed to “take it” to the “best player in the world” after being given central billing in the night session on Rod Laver Arena for her match against third seed Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.

Burrage was emotional at the end of her first-round win over Leolia Jeanjean on Monday having considered retirement late last season as she battled to work her way back after wrist and ankle injuries.

The 25-year-old already has experience of some of the sport’s biggest stages having lost heavily to Daria Kasatkina on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2023 before a 6-3 6-2 defeat against Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.

“I’ve never even hit on Rod Laver before,” Burrage told Sky Sports ahead of her second round match against former US Open Gauff, scheduled for 8am 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 tricky match.

“I’m an underdog and I’m taking that attitude into the match and I’m taking the attitude of I’m going to take it to her. I’m going to see what I can do. I’m going to try and make her as uncomfortable as I can.

“I’m just very excited. Everyone loves an underdog.”

In February, Burrage needed surgery on a snapped tendon in her wrist – the fourth operation of her career – and she suffered another blow in April when preparing to return to competitive action as she ruptured an ankle ligament in a practice session 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 just to give to the sport.

“But it is a crazy sport and it can change very, very quickly. That’s what kept me going, really, is that I know that it can change quickly.”

Draper: Crowd will bring best out of me

Jack Draper expects a hostile crowd to bring the best out of him when he faces home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, with the match scheduled in the night session on John Cain Arena.

Draper scraped through his first-round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navone in five sets, with the rust showing after disrupted preparations because of a hip injury that left him struggling to walk.

“That’s definitely going to bring the best out of me,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a really good atmosphere.

“Whether the crowd’s with me or against me, I remember what it was like playing Futures (tournaments) with no one watching. That’s what I play for, to play in front of a lot of people and entertain.”

Kokkinakis played one of the most memorable Australian Open matches of recent times against Andy Murray two years ago, with the Scot somehow clawing his way back from two sets down before winning a near six-hour contest, which ended at 4.05am local time.

Draper has also had close contests against the 28-year-old, although never previously in Australia, but he will not be seeking his countryman’s advice, with Murray concentrating on his new job coaching Novak Djokovic.

“I think Andy’s too focused on Novak but I did watch that match,” said Draper. “I know Thanasi is going to give it his all here in Melbourne. He always brings great tennis so it’s going to be a really tough match.

“We always have a battle so I’m fully prepared and ready for that. I’m going to have to improve my performance and I think that’s a great chance to do it.”

Question marks also surround the physical condition of Kokkinakis, who withdrew from 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 have a chat with his old friend Jacob Fearnley, who handled one of the most challenging assignments at Melbourne Park with aplomb on his debut by beating Nick Kyrgios.

Draper turned professional as a teenager while Fearnley chose to go to college in the United States, but he has wasted no time making his mark since leaving Texas last spring and can break new ground when he takes on unseeded Frenchman Arthur Cazaux on Wednesday.

‘Fearnley is going to have a great career’

Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend said: “Fearnley did well to deal with the Nick Kyrgios circus, even when Kyrgios was putting on a show, pulling out the trick shots and mounting a minor comeback in the third set.

“The more and more I see Fearnley, the more I think he’s going to have a stellar career as a top-100 player.

“How far is he going to go? It’s too early to say. He’s so fresh into his pro-career but we have this thing in Britain where if you’re going to have a top-100 player you expect top 20 or top 10.

“We seem to be good at producing world-beaters like Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu but are perhaps not so great at producing top, top players who mix it with the elite every year at the top of the game.

“I see in Fearnley all the qualities someone needs to do that. He’s going to have a great career. He’s going to be inside the world’s top 100 for a number of years.”

Harriet Dart, the fourth British player in action on Wednesday, only found out she had been given a place in the draw as a lucky loser a couple of hours before her match against Jana 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 a clash with 18th seed Donna Vekic.

Overend: An eventful few days for the Brits – how nice to chat about victories

Sky Sports Tennis’ Jonathan Overend on the Brit’s in the Australian Open…

“What an eventful first few days it’s been from a British point of view.

“So many tight matches: Jack Draper in five sets, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart as a lucky loser, Raducanu tiebreaks, Boulter scraping through. It’s been drama all the way. But, significantly, way more victories than defeats.

“This is what we’re talking about at the highest level of elite sport. Can you get the win? It doesn’t actually matter whether you play your best tennis or close to your worst tennis. What it’s all about is getting the victories.

“Too often we’ve praised plucky performances but narrow defeats. Well in this Australian Open first round, we’re championing good performances and also close victories, and it’s so good to see.

“In terms of picking out the stories, I think Burrage is just a brilliant one isn’t it? So close to calling it a day, so many set-backs, last year she clearly felt the pain of not being able to play when she was at a career-high ranking, and now an overseas Grand Slam victory. Just brilliant, and it should be a springboard for the rest of the season. Hopefully she can stay fully fit and really enjoy it.

“Draper and Boulter, after deciding sets, I think will both build from here. They are early round scares, but there didn’t seem many doubts in the end about Draper’s ability to come through that match, and likewise Boulter once she came through that 5-5 game when she faced 0-30. They are in good shape.

“Harriet Dart? She’s absolutely making the most of her Lucky Loser status. It’s never easy when you lose in qualifying to get the call that you’re in the main draw, but the most important thing in that situation is making the most of the opportunity. How often do we see it? Lucky Losers, when the pressure is off, go out and swing and make the most of the reprieve they’re given.

“Harriet absolutely did it, but again it was a tight match.”

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