BRITISH STAR BURSTS INTO TEARS AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN VICTORY AFTER NEARLY QUITTING TENNIS

Jodie Burrage secured her first ever win at the Australian Open

Jodie Burrage has endured a raft of injuries and considered walking away from the sport during her recovery but stuck at it and has now landed a first ever Australian Open win

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.

Jodie Burrage cut an emotional figure after considering retirement

Burrage ruptured an ankle ligament in a practice session with fellow Brit Katie Boulter - whom Burrage now avoids training with after claiming she has PTSD. That injury resulted in her missing another 10 weeks.

The 26-year-old made her comeback on the lower-tier ITF Futures Tour. Burrage later broke down in tears during a training session and questioned whether it was worth the struggles, but has now seen all her efforts vindicated at the Australian Open.

Harriet Dart is another Brit joining Burrage in the second round. She saved two match points in a 7-5 2-6 7-6 (10-7) win over Croatian qualifier Jana Fett. Dart had lost in qualifying but ended up in the draw as a lucky loser when 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew through injury earlier on Monday.

- Samuel Meade

OSAKA OVERCOMES BRONZETTI TO SET UP POTENTIAL SWIATEK CLASH AT FRENCH OPEN

Reuters 

 Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka survived an early scare when she laboured past unseeded Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 4-6 7-5 in the first round of the French Open on Sunday to claim her first win at Roland Garros in three years.

Returning this year from a 15-month maternity break, Osaka had fallen in the first round at the Australian Open in January but looked set to breeze into the second round in Paris as the former world number one bombarded Bronzetti from the baseline.

However, Osaka nearly imploded in the decider when she threw away a 4-0 lead before sealing victory in the two-hour contest to potentially play Iga Swiatek in the second round if the reigning champion beats French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday.

"I'm honestly really excited. I watched her (Swiatek) a lot when I was pregnant," Osaka told reporters.

"And honestly, I think it's an honour to play her in the French Open, because she's won more than once here. It's a very big honour and challenge for me."

Osaka dominated the first set on a gusty Philippe Chatrier court to wrap it up in 28 minutes but her unforced errors rose steeply in the second, allowing Bronzetti to break in the crucial game at 5-4 and force a decider.

However, the 26-year-old Japanese player got back on track in the deciding set and had the opportunity to break for a 5-0 lead.

But she appeared to lose her grip on the tie as world number 67 Bronzetti clawed her way back into the contest, earning Osaka's applause on some winners while also frustrating the Japanese, who pounded the red dirt when the third set was tied at 4-4.

Osaka regained her composure and she pounced for a crucial break in the 11th game before finally clinching the back-and-forth battle.

"I was, in my head, thinking I didn't win a match in Australia so I'd really love to win one here. Obviously that wasn't a good train of thought," Osaka said when describing her mental state during the match.

"Yeah, I kind of focused on it a bit too much instead of trying to play point by point. I think towards the end I was able to erase that thought from my head.

"But I would love to not have to go through that roller coaster again."

- Reuters