Tamara Korpatsch put paid to Jodie Burrage’s hopes of a good run at the Australian Open by beating the British No 2 in the first match on Court 3 on Sunday, 2-6 6-3 6-0.
Burrage received direct entry into the main draw in Melbourne for the first time, which was indicative of her improved form over the past year.
She suffered a 3rd-set collapse, though, after winning the opener on her AO debut, and being pegged back in the second, losing 9 of the final 10 games of the contest.
Unable to build on her good start, Burrage, who is ranked No 102, was eventually out-duelled by the 80th-ranked German.
Burrage earned her spot in the main draw for the first time with a strong year in 2023, and she played with confidence and purpose to take the opening set as the year’s first Grand Slam made its maiden Sunday start.
The pair had met twice before in the closing months of last season, with Korpatsch winning on both occasions, but Burrage knew she had the power advantage, and she used it well in the first set.
The 24-year-old served strongly and seized on her opponent’s weaker delivery to break her twice.
Returning well, and using her power from the baseline to push her opponent deep, she earned 2 break points in 3rd game, and took the first when Korpatsch hit long.
Burrage took a second chance to move 4-1 ahead, putting away a crosscourt forehand winner that demonstrated her growing confidence, and she served out to take the opening set in 28 minutes.
Jodie Burrage’s confident start against Tamara Korpatsch faltered and she saw her lead ebb away on Court 13
© Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Korpatsch then opted to go off court for a 6-minute bathroom break in an effort to regroup, which seemed to work as she steadied herself, and Burrage’s unforced error count began to rise.
Although Burrage was in the ascendancy again to start the second, Korpatsch hung on and the momentum began to swing as the German, who had looked uncomfortable and unsettled, asked Burrage more questions.
Korpatsch continued to lengthen the points, drawing more errors from Burrage on the baseline, and the increased pressure led to the Briton producing back-to-back double-faults to gift Korpastch a 4-2 lead.
Burrage survived a set point as she served her way out of trouble for 5-3, and threatened to break back in the 9th game before Korpatsch got over the line to level.
The British No 2 had had her chances to get back on serve at the end of the set, but failed to take them, and the 3rd quickly ran away from her in a slew of errors as she unravelled.
With the momentum now against her, Burrage looked increasingly edgy and frustrated as her return game continued to break down in the decider.
Another double-fault helped Korpatsch move 3-0 ahead, while 3 unforced errors from the baseline handed over the triple break to the German.
Burrage’s annoyance boiled over when she whacked a ball out of the court, earning her a warning from the umpire, and Korpatsch wrapped up the win with a confident hold to advance after an hour and 48 minutes.
British No 1 Katie Boulter and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu have yet to start their campaigns against Yuan Yue from China and American Shelby Rogers respectively and will be in action on Tuesday.
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