THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2023

Jodie Burrage

Press Conference

D. KASATKINA/J. Burrage

6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Jodie Burrage.

Jodie, not the result, but good experience playing on Centre Court?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, it was a good experience. Obviously not the result that I wanted. The first set was pretty brutal (smiling).

But all in all, you dream to be out on Centre Court. When I found out yesterday, it's so exciting. In the same breath, you've got to deal with those nerves as well. I wish I could have settled a little bit earlier today. But you've got to go through these experiences to, yeah, feel more comfortable in the next ones.

So, yeah, it was a tough day, but also one of my dreams come true, so...

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I saw as you walked out, you had the biggest smile on your face. Was that a conscious decision?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, definitely. There's different ways you can go about it. I wanted to take it all in. I like using the crowd to my advantage and stuff, as well. I just wanted to have a look about.

It's obviously a massive court. Never played on anything like that. So for me, instead of thinking it's not a big deal, like, I wanted to embrace it. I feel like I did.

I didn't actually feel too, like, concerned about the court and the people. My opponent played pretty well, put me under pressure. That's what I was thinking about.

But, yeah, I enjoyed the experience. That's why the smile was on my face. Like I said, it's one of my dreams to walk out on to Centre Court. I've done that. If I can't enjoy it, yeah, what else can I do (smiling)?

Q. When is the last time you were in that court?

JODIE BURRAGE: I came for dinner I think with a few friends. We obviously went out and saw the court, had a little look. But other than that, would have probably been last year where you walk past Centre Court in the upcoming days.

No, actually, I watched Bolt play on Centre. I was in her box against Pliskova when she won. That was a really good day for her. I wish that could have happened for me today. Sometimes it doesn't.

But, yeah, that would have been the last time.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about what that view is like, when you're looking up, looking around, just how daunting it is? Even your opponent said she was terrified out there. Do you think there is a sense of frustration or a desire to get back there, and next time you'll be a lot better?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, it's an incredible court. You look up, and you can't even see the back when you look up. Obviously the way the bowl kind of happens, you can't actually see the back. It's like never ending.

Yeah, it's one of those things where you want to take that all in, but you've also got to focus on what's going on on the court. The crowd tried their best for me today to get me through that match or to get me into that match, which I'm really grateful for.

Also, like, the Royal Box, as well, I mean, having the people who were in that box out there watching you. I actually didn't see who was in there. When you're on the court, it's hard to see who is in there. You don't want to really look and stare.

The rain delay, they obviously had the cameras around, and in the room we're in. I obviously saw David Beckham was announced. Oh my God, David Beckham is watching me play tennis right now. I was at 6-Love, 2-1 down, 2-All, whatever it is (smiling).

It is daunting, but in the same breath it's exciting. That's where you want to be. That's where I want to come back to if I get the chance next year to come and play at the tournament, and on this court again. Hopefully I perform a little bit better.

But you've got to go through these experiences to come out the other side. So I'll learn from it today. Yeah, hopefully I get another chance.

Q. Is David Beckham a particular hero? More exciting to see him or Melvyn Bragg from Radio 4?

JODIE BURRAGE: I think there's an obvious answer to that (smiling).

No, I think everyone gets excited when David Beckham is around. Yeah, he's just an incredible person. He's done a lot. Yeah, it was a privilege to have him watching me today.

Q. Were you tight in the first set? Do you think next time you might change that, not looking around so much? Do you think you might be more tunnel next time?

JODIE BURRAGE: I don't think so. You know, I went through it with my coaches and my team before. For me, as a player, I quite like using the atmosphere and stuff. I wanted to take it in. I wanted to use it.

I mean, I wish I could have played a little bit better. And yes, I was nervous. Like, I think everyone's nervous when they walk out on Centre Court. But it's something you have to go through.

My next experience I feel like I'll be more prepared. I'll go and speak to my team - I haven't spoken to them properly yet - about those nerves and how to deal with them a little bit better.

Also, my opponent made me play so many balls. She missed like two or three in the first set. I missed a fair few. She's probably my worst nightmare to play, as well, someone who just makes balls. It wasn't an easy matchup for me.

That's what I'll be focusing on if I come back, and in the next few weeks, trying to deal with a player like that, having the confidence in my game to be able to hit through them.

Q. What is the challenge of facing a player like Kasatkina? What did you learn from a top player?

JODIE BURRAGE: Like I said, she makes so many balls. Her serve isn't the strongest serve on tour. You always feel like you can hit through her, you can get on top of the point, press a little bit. That's what I really found in the first set.

She plays such long rallies. I've got a little bit of a cold and stuff, as well. Struggling to breathe properly as it is. When you're playing rallies, when I'm having to hit 10, 11, 12 shots, it is not easy. It's not where I want to be. It's just trying to figure out how to shorten those rallies.

I did start to come in a little bit in the end, hit some good volleys. I just didn't really have the confidence to stick in those rallies today.

That's what I think I'd be working on the next few weeks, is in those longer rallies feeling confident in myself, in my shots, that I can, and having to wait for the opportunity to be aggressive and press.

Q. I think you're now going to be in the top hundred, so you should be in the US Open. Is that going to alter your schedule from what you were anticipating? I think your partner has been transferred to Toulon. Are you going to be training there, changing where you train, south of France, whatever? Sounds awful.

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, that's not a bad place to go, south of France.

But no, yeah, Ben is going to Toulon. It's a really good opportunity for him. But my team are here in London. I mean, I won't be moving out there with him. I'll go out and visit him a few times, hopefully find a training center close and we can maybe do a week or two there.

It's just one of those things. I mean, I'm away for, what, 30 weeks a year anyway. It won't be loads that I'd be going over. Yeah, like I said, my team are here, and I can't ask them to go there either.

Yeah, it's just one of those things that we'll go through and it's fine. Like I said, there's worse places to go than the south of France.

Your other point on top hundred, hopefully that happens. Obviously I've got to wait for a few weeks to see what the rankings are when they come out. That was one of my goals, to be in US Open main draw. Hopefully I've done enough for that. I'll just cross my fingers and hope that it happens.

And schedule-wise, I was planning to play I think it was the week straight after Wimbledon. At the moment that's still my plan. I haven't played enough tennis this year in my liking 'cause of my injuries and stuff. At the moment that is the plan. I might take one or two more weeks off than I normally would have, like in the lead-ups, I might play two and one instead of going through.

Yeah, I'll speak to my team and get the best plan going forward.

Q. You had the early break in the second. You talked about the tennis you played in the second set. Do you think you gave the world a glimpse of the type of tennis you like to play? The fact you will also have picked up some new fans.

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, I gave them about four games of the tennis I can play (smiling).

No, it was unfortunate with the rain delay obviously coming and kind of stopping my momentum a little bit. That game at 2-1, I probably should have stopped when I was serving at one of those deuces because I was thinking, Let's get this game done before the rain comes. I mean, it was kind of spitting as I was serving. I wish I would have stopped instead of her breaking me, then coming out. That's just one of the things that I'll learn about.

Hopefully I've gained some new fans, not just this week, but the last few weeks, and shown what tennis I can play, the potential that I do have. There's still a lot of work to be done. Yeah, hopefully I can come back better next year and people can carry on supporting me.

Q. Emma Raducanu has been around the grounds in the last few days. What advice was she able to give you about preparing for such an experience?

JODIE BURRAGE: I actually didn't see her. I didn't really see her at all the last few days. I've spoken to her a bit in the last few months. We don't really talk about tennis, to be honest. We check in. We have a bit of fun with some other stuff. Yeah, I mean, I should have probably messaged her for advice.

I asked Andy actually for a little bit of advice going out onto Centre Court this morning. Ryan Peniston because it was obviously his first time as well. I messaged him.

They gave me some good points. They obviously didn't work too much (smiling). Yeah, I tried to get some advice from them.

Q. What advice did Andy Murray give you?

JODIE BURRAGE: Well, when I asked him this morning, kind of looked at me, I was like, You probably don't remember, it was quite a long time ago.

He said about, yeah, looking around. He said about the Royal Box, like getting comfortable with whoever's up there. When you're on the court, you do get glimpses of people. It can sometimes put you off. Yeah, he just said have a little look. Once you know who's there, then you can kind of get on with things.

But just to go out and enjoy it, regardless of the score. That's what I did today.

Q. In 36 hours you will look back at it and take more positives from it having had the experience?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, definitely. It's not ideal now. Would have liked to have put up a bit more of a fight, especially in the first set.

But at the end of the day a loss is a loss, doesn't matter the score. Yeah, like I said, I did enjoy my time out there. It is one of the dreams that I've had. This whole week, winning a few days ago, there's a lot of emotion about. Yeah, I think right now I'm just a little tired. Once I get over that, hopefully win some more matches in doubles, then I'll take a lot of the positives, yeah.

Q. You mentioned the new fans that hopefully are watching you during the grass court season. Are you getting any recognition around town or anything?

JODIE BURRAGE: I haven't had too much time to go out, to be honest. It's literally been courts, tennis, recovery.

I don't know. We'll see. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks. Yeah, I'm just hoping that people can get behind me and support me. I mean, I've had so many messages from a lot of people, people that I know, people that I don't know. That's really encouraging.

Yeah, nice to receive them, as well.