Emotional Jodie Burrage wins on grand slam return after year of injury
The 25-year-old was tearful after defeating French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean 6-2 6-4.
Jodie Burrage put a year of injury struggles behind her with her first main draw victory at the Australian Open.
The 25-year-old Briton admitted ahead of the tournament she considered quitting the sport a couple of months ago, but she produced one of her best grand slam performances to beat French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean 6-2 6-4.
After her final forehand dribbled over the net, Burrage covered her face with her hands as the emotion of the moment caught up with her.
It was her first match at a slam since a first-round defeat here last year with Burrage then suffering a wrist injury in February that needed surgery before rupturing an ankle ligament just as she was about to make her comeback.
She missed the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, and was at her lowest moment as she tried to work her way back up the rankings at lower-tier events during the autumn.
But a title in Dubai, the biggest of her career, to end the season gave her a huge boost and Burrage produced a fluent display against Jeanjean for just her third victory at a slam.
She used her powerful groundstrokes and serve to good effect and did not face a break point throughout the 73-minute contest.
