AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Jodie Burrage

Press Conference

J. BURRAGE/L. Jeanjean

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Jodie Burrage. Congratulations on the victory. Off to the second round. How do you feel after that?

JODIE BURRAGE: Amazing. No, very, very happy with today. Yeah, I got a little bit emotional at the end. There was a lot of hard work that went into today.

So, yeah, very, very happy with the win and very happy with how I played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk us through those emotions? What was going through your mind? Happy tears?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, they were, they were. And grateful once that net cord went over. A bit lucky with that.

No, I think I was really nervous for this match, even last night nerves. I have not had that in a while.

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. All of those emotions from the last nine months I think, yeah, were bottled up in there.

You know, throughout playing the ITFs and everything I did, all I was saying is I want to get to Australia, I know I'll be good in Australia. Yeah, so I didn't really want to let the opportunity go to waste today. Very happy, you know, that I managed to get over the line. I think I handled myself well throughout the match.

Yeah, just at the end, it was always going to come out at some point (smiling). Yeah, just very, very happy.

Q. Not just to say nerves, but on court you had confidence. What calmed you down?

JODIE BURRAGE: I don't know. That's what Ian said, as well. Actually somebody else said to me. I said, Oh, my God, I was so nervous at the end there. I was saying it this morning.

I had breakfast with Liv Nicholls, who warmed me up. I was saying, I can't eat this, this is not going down. She's like, It's fine, it's fine. After we hit, you get those nerves out a little bit.

But then you go back to the locker room, put your match kit on and you start thinking about all the possibilities again. But I have played a lot of matches. You know, playing in finals, semis, I think you get used to the pressure.

Because I have played so many matches, I knew, yeah, I'm match-fit right now. I knew if I had a break, I wasn't going to let it go unless she does something too good.

Yeah, I think just trusting the work that I have put in. It's been nine months of hard work, but obviously before that, as well, I was getting to a really good spot.

Yeah, I'm just trusting myself more and believing in myself more.

Q. Did some of those nerves come from the fact, you could draw anyone because you're unseeded? You could draw Sabalenka, but you drew a qualifier. Do you think some of those nerves were you were expecting yourself to win?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, I knew it was a good opportunity draw-wise, and I mean, everyone let me know that it was a good opportunity draw-wise (laughter). I think I sent some messages to my uncle saying, Still got to win the match.

So I think there was a bit of pressure that side. And I had it before at a slam. I can't remember which one it was, and I had lost. I remember the same sort of feelings, so I didn't want that to happen today. That's what you get playing these tournaments, you know, the experience of everything.

So, yeah, I mean, yeah, it could have gone either way, and in the past Jodie might have let the pressure get to her, might have let the occasion get to her, but that's where I have come miles, as well.

Q. On that same court?

JODIE BURRAGE: I mean, last year, Korpatsch. After I won that first set 6-2 today, I was, like, this feels very similar to last year. I was, like, Please, Jodie, let's not have another last year. Then I went 4-Love down in that first game, obviously ended up breaking. That was a massive game for me. Just shows that I am improving in other aspects, not just tennis-wise.

Q. Do you think maybe with everything you went through last year, does that help maybe lift that pressure a little bit, as well? Do you have a little bit of a different mindset?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, I'm grateful to be back, grateful to be on the court. I'm grateful to be playing tennis.

There is no guarantee after surgery. I remember when I went in for the wrist surgery, you know, he was listing off all of the things that could go wrong, because obviously he has to. I'm, like, You didn't say this to me when I made this decision to get surgery.

Yeah, you know, a lot of people have had wrist surgery and are struggling to come back, you know. So I'm happy that, you know, my rehab, my physio -- she's not here this year; she was here last year. She got me through and was so diligent with my rehab and everything that I did. Yes, I'm very grateful to be having no issues with my body right now.

I think, yeah, that could have helped me today, but it's very easy to say when you're out there, when you've got breakpoints, you know, and there was a few breakpoints that I missed opportunities, you've still got to go out there and win the match.

You can't be like, Oh, I'm happy to be here. You have to go out and beat these players regardless who you play.

Q. With all you have been through this year, how would you rate that win, that performance? Most emotional, most satisfying? How would you describe it?

JODIE BURRAGE: It was definitely up there with, I'd say with -- yeah, one of the best wins of my career, and I think, you know, the emotion that came out after showed that.

Yeah, it's also just the start. I feel like I have more belief and confidence in myself, and I feel like that showed today. I feel like it's the start of, you know, a good year for me.

So I think it was really, really important to get that win today. But, yeah, after everything the last year, I am happy to be out here and playing, but also, I play this sport to win matches. Yeah, that's what I did today.

Q. What about the next round?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, okay. It will be fun (smiling). Yeah, I'm going to take it to her, see if I can get more games than last time, which wasn't very many.

Again, I feel like I'm in a different spot to the last time I played her. Yeah, it will be interesting. I just saw Donna and asking what court I'm going to be on. She's not sorted it yet. I have not hit on any of the big courts, so I need to try and do that, as well. Obviously it will be very different in a stadium.

But, yeah, what an opportunity. I'll go out and I'll take it to her and see if I can do some damage.

Q. (Off mic.)

JODIE BURRAGE: I played Sabalenka on -- yes. I have also played on center. I got, yeah, got killed on center.

Q. What have you learned from those experiences?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, of course I'm going to learn from them. Actually when I played Sabalenka I played so much better because of what happened on center court against Kasatkina.

So I'm excited. You know, I like it when you play the big occasions, the adrenaline gets going. For sure there will be nerves but it's good nerves. It's a free swing for me. I'm a proper underdog. See what I can do, see where my level is at with arguably one of the best players in the world right now.

Q. Has the last year made you stronger?

JODIE BURRAGE: For sure. I mean, every surgery I feel like I'm coming back stronger. I might keep having them to... (Laughter.)

No, I'm kidding. I'm done. Please, God, no more. I am stronger, for sure.

I'm growing as a player, growing as a person, and I don't know why all the surgeries and injuries are happening to me, but it's making me a better person and a better player. That's how I've got to look at it. It's my journey, very unique compared to other people's journeys, but that's the cards that I have been dealt. Yeah, will keep trying to do the best with them.

Q. (Off mic.)

JODIE BURRAGE: I think the amount of times I have been injured and the effort that it takes to get back, the fight that it takes to do an hour and a half of rehab in the morning and then go do physical and then get on the court and then do it all again the next day, for six months, the work that you put in, this is easy. Coming here, training here is easy.

Staying in London, NTC for six months, is not where anyone wants to be, as much as I do love it there.

Yeah, this is where you want to be, and I think people talk about putting themselves in difficult situations and, you know, training-wise and preseason and whatever. I feel like I have constantly been in that, especially for the last nine months, but with every injury that I have had, yeah, I feel like you just build up resilience. But yeah, I don't know, but I feel in a good position now.

Q. On those injuries, have you or will you have to adapt your training and playing schedule to make sure your body stays healthy?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, I do think I'm going to have to take it into account, and I'm not good at doing that. If I can step on the court, I will play.

You know, I actually tore my ab slightly when I came back from this injury, and they didn't want me to go play Shrewsbury where I played. I was basically hitting kick serves there, which I shouldn't have done, but I'm going to have to listen to my body. It's only a problem if you're winning matches, so it's a good problem to have.

Right now I've got six months of no points, and it's trying to, you know, make the most of that really. So I am going to be playing a lot.

Q. How do you prepare for Coco? How do you tell yourself, I can beat her?

JODIE BURRAGE: I'll probably let myself enjoy the rest of today. I did catch the end of her match whilst warming down. I'll definitely rewatch her match in Eastbourne and probably watch a match on hard, as well.

To be honest, I kind of know what I want to do. I learnt a lot from my last match. It's just about execution, if I can do it. But I just want to go out there and enjoy, you know, put her under pressure.

But yeah, you know, last year didn't think I'd be playing these kinds of matches again. So I'm just going to, yeah, relish the moment and see what happens.

Q. What's it like being across the net from her? What sort of challenge does she present?

JODIE BURRAGE: I feel like she's quite an intimidating person when you are, I guess, doing the ball toss and stuff. But I feel like the more I have had those bigger matches with those people and when I played Sabalenka at US Open, I felt in a lot calmer state. At the end of the day you're just playing the ball, trying to take the person out of it and play the ball that comes to you. You know, focus every point. Every point is a new point.

Anything can happen in tennis. So I think it's actually going to try to take the person out of it, but also, in the same breath, keep reminding myself I have no pressure whatsoever.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see which mindset works, but I'll figure that out tomorrow. Tomorrow or Wednesday.

Q. Are they kind of different nerves to this one? Will you be able to eat breakfast before that one, you think?

JODIE BURRAGE: I hope so, because it was tough today actually.

No, I think there will still be nerves, obviously. Yeah, going out onto a bigger court, there will be nerves. But I will enjoy it, I think. Like I said in the past, playing those players and, yeah, the match with Sabalenka and stuff, I have learned a lot.

So, yeah, I'll be fine. I'll enjoy it.

Q. Decided not to retire last year? Good decision, yeah?

JODIE BURRAGE: Yeah, good decision. (Laughter.)