Jodie Burrage fluffs her lines on the big stage as the Billie Jean King Cup debutant admits to nerves after shock defeat against Sweden’s Kajsa Rinaldo Persson
- Jodie Burrage made her team GB debut in the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday
- The result was a surprise defeat before a sell-out crowd of 5,500 spectators
- Burrage has enjoyed an impressive season and breached the top 100 rankings
Jodie Burrage learned one of the oldest and most painful lessons in tennis on Saturday — that the pressure of performing in team competitions is like nothing else.
Before a sell-out crowd of 5,500 in London’s Copper Box, she made her debut for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup and admitted she found the experience overwhelming.
The result was a surprise 6-4, 6-1 defeat by Sweden’s Kajsa Rinaldo Persson, who is ranked 279 places below her at 372 and contrastingly lifted herself for the big occasion.
This was later evened up by Katie Boulter, who beat Caijsa Hennemann 6-2, 6-1 to leave the match 1-1 after the first day with three more rubbers to be played on Sunday. The winners will go through to a playoff next year to reach the eight-team finals.
Burrage has enjoyed an impressive season which has seen her breach the all- important 100 mark in the rankings. However, she conceded nothing had quite prepared her for wearing national colours with its added dimensions, and against the solid play of her opponent she became strangely flummoxed from 4-0 up.
Jodie Burrage made her team GB debut in the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday
Burrage admitted she has never felt the ‘nerves’ that competing for Team GB brings with it
‘This event is nothing like I’ve experienced. I’m very proud to represent my country and this is going to stick with me,’ she said. ‘It’s tough to take, I have not felt like this, like the nerves before you even step out on Centre Court (at Wimbledon) doesn’t compare to this. If you win or lose the point it feels double.
‘This year I’ve had so many firsts, and I’ve played in front of big crowds, and I don’t necessarily think it was the crowd that made me nervous. It’s just so different when you’re playing for yourself and then playing for a team.
‘That’s why it hurts even more, because I’m hurting for other people, that’s why I’m p***ed off even more.
‘I got very emotional after the National Anthem. I think everything has a first time and you need to just go through it.’
This match was meant to be a breeze for Great Britain against a Sweden side missing their two best players due to injury, but it is still open.
Captain Anne Keothavong may be tempted to bring in Harriet Dart or Heather Watson on Sunday against what is clearly a highly motivated if inferior opposition on paper.
She had sympathy for Burrage’s plight, saying: ‘Jodie has earned the right to go out there, she has had a fantastic year and this will be tough for her, but she has to find a way to bounce back.
‘As a former player I know what it is like when things don’t go your way. You have the right intent, but you are unable to produce your best. The court can feel small but she will learn from it.’
This match was meant to be a breeze for Great Britain against a Sweden side missing their two best players due to injury
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