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

British underdog Jodie Burrage has vowed to “take it” to the “best player in the world” after taking center billing 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 of her first round win over Leolia Jeanjean on Monday after considering retirement late last season as she struggled to work her way back from wrist and ankle injuries.

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

“I’ve never even hit Rod Laver before,” Burrage shared Sky Sports ahead of her 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 difficult match.

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

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

In February, Burrage had to have surgery on a ruptured tendon in her wrist – the fourth operation of her career – and she suffered another blow in April as she prepared to return to competition when she ruptured an ankle ligament in a training 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 just 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, is that I know it can change quickly.”

Draper: Crowd will bring out the best in me

Jack Draper expects a hostile crowd to bring out the best in him when he meets home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, with the bout scheduled for the night session at John Cain Arena.

Drape scraped through his first round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navone in five setswith the rust showing after disrupted preparations due to a hip injury that left him struggling to walk.

“It will definitely bring out the best in me,” he said. “I think it will be a really 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 entertain.”

Kokkinakis played one of the most memorable Australian Open matches in recent memory against Andy Murray two years ago, with the Scot somehow fighting back from two sets down before winning a nearly six-hour contest which ended at 4.05 local time.

Draper has also had close contests against the 28-year-old, though never before in Australia, but he will not seek his compatriot’s advice, with Murray concentrating on his new job coaching Novak Djokovic.

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

“We always have a game so I am fully prepared and ready for it. I will have to improve my performance and I think this is a great chance to do that.”

Question marks also surround the fitness of Kokkinaki, 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 have a chat with his old friend Jacob Fearnleywho handled one of the most challenging tasks at Melbourne Park with confidence on his debut by beating Nick Kyrgios.

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

‘Fearnley will have a fantastic career’

Sky Sports’ Jonathan Overend said: “Fearnley did well dealing with the Nick Kyrgios circuseven when Kyrgios was putting on a show, the trick shots pulled out and made a minor comeback in the third set.

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

“How far will he go? It’s too early to say. He’s so fresh in his pro career but we have this thing in the UK 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 maybe we’re not so good 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 in the world’s top 100 for a number of years.”

Harriet Dartthe fourth British player in action on Wednesday, only found out she had been given a place in the lucky loser draw a few hours before her match against Jana Fett, which she finally won after more than three hours despite cramping and a lay 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 talk about victories

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

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

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

“That’s what we’re talking about at the highest level of elite sport. Can you win? It doesn’t really matter if you’re playing your best tennis or close to your worst tennis. What it’s about is getting the wins.

“Too often we’ve praised gutsy performances but narrow defeats. Well, in this Australian Open first round, we’re fighting for good performances and close wins too, and that’s so good to see.

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

“Draper and Boulter, having decided sets, I think both will build from here. They are early-round scares, but there didn’t seem much doubt at the end about Draper’s ability to get through that match, and likewise Boulter, when she came through that 5-5 game when she faced 0-30. They are in good shape.

“Harriet Dart? She’s definitely making the most of her Lucky Loser status. It’s never easy when you lose in the qualifier to get the call that you’re in the main draw, but the most important thing in that situation is to get the most out of How often do we see it.

“Harriet absolutely did, but again it was a close game.”

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