Tennis

Australian Open women’s round-up: Coco Gauff made to work hard for win by Britain’s Jodie Burrage

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survives early test as Zheng Qinwen crashes out to Germany’s Laura Siegemund

USA's Coco Gauff of the United States hits a return against Britain's Jodie Burrage during their women's singles match on day four of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images
USA's Coco Gauff of the United States hits a return against Britain's Jodie Burrage during their women's singles match on day four of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images
Wed Jan 15 2025 - 16:55

Coco Gauff made heavy weather of British battler Jodie Burrage before claiming a 6-3 7-5 win to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Leading 3-1 in the second set and seemingly cruising to victory, the American third seed was dragged into a street fight by the plucky Burrage who began swinging for the fences at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena.

Burrage broke Gauff twice to bring the crowd to her corner, winning four games in succession to earn the chance to serve for the set.

But the 25-year-old Londoner blew the chance, double-faulting to drop serve twice in succession and allowing Gauff to close out the match.

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“It was tough. She was serving really well, so I was just trying to manage that, honestly,” said Gauff. “She really stepped her level up in the middle of the second set so I was just trying to be offensive as much as I could.”

It was Gauff’s second straights sets win at the tournament after a first round test against 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

She set up an intriguing duel against former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez for a place in the fourth round.

For Burrage, it was a tough ending after an encouraging first-up win over French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean.

Playing with a protected ranking of 85, Burrage shed happy tears when she beat Jeanjean in the first round, having considered quitting last year after missing half the season with wrist and ankle injuries.

But after her near-miss against Gauff, she trudged off with dry-eyed resignation.

Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a first test of this year’s tournament, but last year’s beaten finalist Zheng Qinwen suffered a shock second-round exit.

The Chinese star reached her first Grand Slam showpiece in Melbourne last year before going on to win Olympic gold and establish herself as one of the best players in the world.

But she came unstuck against German Laura Siegemund, a 36-year-old better known for her prowess in doubles, going down 7-6 (3) 6-3.

Sabalenka was also in trouble, down 5-2 in the second set to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. But the top seed extended her winning run to 16 matches with a 6-3 7-5 victory.

The Belarusian next faces talented young Dane Clara Tauson, who was a 6-2 6-2 winner over Tatjana Maria.

Naomi Osaka has not gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam since winning her second title in Melbourne in 2021.

But the former world number one has started the season strongly and she followed up her first-round win over Caroline Garcia by coming from a set down to see off 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-1 6-3.

It was payback for Osaka after she lost to the Czech at the US Open last year, with the Japanese star saying: “She crushed me at the US Open when I had my best outfit ever. I was so mad. This was my little revenge.”

Her draw does not get any easier with former top-10 star and fellow mother Belinda Bencic up next.

The Swiss is making her return to Grand Slam tennis following the birth of daughter Bella last April.

Bencic is enjoying the change in routine, saying: “We’re just doing more fun stuff and trying to go out for a walk or trying to go to the aquarium. I don’t think I would be going to the aquarium before.”

Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva came through an extremely tight clash against Moyuka Uchijima, the 14th seed eventually winning 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8), while seventh seed Jessica Pegula saw off Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2.