NEW YORK — Britain's Jodie Burrage made a commanding start to her US Open qualifying campaign, dropping just four games in a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over Hungary's Reka Luca Jani on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old, ranked No. 102 in the world, showcased her aggressive baseline game and strong serve to overpower Jani, a seasoned qualifier with over a decade of professional experience. Burrage's win keeps her on track to secure a spot in the US Open main draw for the second consecutive year.
A Strong Start to Qualifying
Burrage wasted no time asserting her dominance on Court 11 at Flushing Meadows, breaking Jani's serve twice in the opening set. Her powerful groundstrokes and precise placement kept the Hungarian veteran on the defensive throughout the 68-minute match.
"I felt really good out there today," Burrage said in her post-match interview. "I knew Reka was a tough opponent with a lot of experience, so I wanted to start strong and keep the pressure on. I'm happy with how I executed my game plan."
Key stats from the match highlighted Burrage's control:
- Won 75% of first-serve points
- Converted 4 of 6 break point opportunities
- Hit 22 winners to Jani's 9
- Limited unforced errors to just 12
Building Momentum
This performance continues Burrage's upward trajectory in 2023. After reaching a career-high ranking of No. 85 in July, she has shown consistent form on hard courts this summer:
- Quarterfinal at Nottingham (grass)
- Third round at Wimbledon
- Semifinal at ITF event in Granby
- Second round at Washington Open
Her coach, Nigel Sears, praised her recent development: "Jodie's made significant strides in her consistency and mental toughness this season. She's learning to impose her game on opponents from the first point, which was evident today."
Next Challenge Ahead
Burrage will face a sterner test in the second qualifying round against Belgium's Greet Minnen, ranked No. 118. Minnen advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 win over American wildcard Katrina Scott.
The head-to-head stands at 1-1, with Minnen winning their most recent encounter at an ITF event in 2021. "Greet's a great player with lots of variety," Burrage noted. "I'll need to serve well and take my chances when they come."
Path to the Main Draw
With 16 main draw spots available through qualifying, Burrage needs two more wins to secure her place. The qualifying format presents unique challenges:
- 128 players start in qualifying
- Three rounds of single elimination
- No tiebreaks in final sets
- Matches played over four days
British No. 3 Burrage is one of four Brits in women's qualifying, alongside Harriet Dart, Katie Boulter, and Yuriko Miyazaki. Dart also won her first-round match, while Boulter and Miyazaki play Wednesday.
Bigger Picture
A successful qualifying campaign would mark Burrage's second Grand Slam main draw appearance of 2023, following her Wimbledon showing where she reached the third round before falling to defending champion Elena Rybakina.
The US Open has been a happy hunting ground for British women recently, with Emma Raducanu's fairytale title run in 2021 and Harriet Dart's third-round appearance last year. Burrage will hope to continue that trend.
"Every match in qualifying feels like a final," Burrage admitted. "But I'm embracing the challenge. Making main draws consistently is my goal, and I believe I belong at this level."
Conclusion
With her convincing first-round win, Burrage has positioned herself well in the qualifying bracket. Her powerful game suits the fast hard courts of Flushing Meadows, and her confidence appears high after a solid summer of results.
As British tennis looks to build depth behind Raducanu, performances like Burrage's offer encouragement. Her next match against Minnen promises to be a tougher examination, but one the in-form Brit appears ready to meet head-on.
With main draw play beginning August 28, Burrage will aim to complete her qualifying mission by Friday. A successful campaign would mark another milestone in her steady rise up the WTA rankings.