Jodie Burrage experienced a tough loss in her first appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open. Despite a strong start against Tamara Korpatsch, she ultimately lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Burrage, the British No 2, had opened the contest playing excellent attacking tennis, dominating from inside the baseline with her superior pace and weight of shot and smothering Korpatsch’s weak second serve.
However, as the second set began, Korpatsch’s experience became evident as she reduced her mistakes, retrieved difficult shots, and extended rallies. The 28-year-old’s strong defensive play made it challenging for Burrage to make offensive shots, especially as the wind started affecting the ball’s movement. As a result, Burrage’s game deteriorated rapidly.
Burrage stated that playing in the wind was challenging. Despite trying to adapt, it was difficult to hit big shots and maintain control in the windy conditions. She recognized the need to develop a backup strategy for these situations in order to improve her performance. Today, she had no alternative plan and recognized the importance of having one in the future.
After Korpatsch gained the upper hand in the game, she easily defeated her opponent, No 81, by winning the final seven games. Burrage admitted that her quick loss was due to her lack of confidence.
To be frank, I have faced this challenge throughout my entire career. I may have mentioned it before. Particularly in a match like today, when an opponent suddenly becomes consistent and hits every ball in play, it’s difficult to feel confident in hitting through them. That’s something I need to work on – having faith in my abilities on the court, because currently, I lack that in these types of situations.
After achieving a top 100 ranking last year, Burrage, who is now ranked No 102, must maintain her position in the highest level of the sport and avoid dropping back down to the ITF Circuit. Losing a winnable grand slam match against an unseeded opponent is certainly a missed chance. However, Burrage stated that she must take lessons from these losses in order to keep progressing.
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“I may be 24 years old, which may not be considered young in the world of tennis, but I still feel like a newcomer at this level,” she stated. “I am continuously learning and improving every week. It’s a challenging level and if you’re not at your best or mentally prepared, it’s not sufficient. I constantly observe and learn from top players, paying attention to their techniques and strategies by watching more matches.”
“I believe it’s important to allow myself some time to learn and absorb all of the experiences and store them in my memory. This is my first time here, so I’m focused on learning as much as I can from the other players and the matches I participate in.”
