Jodie Burrage in the first round of the 2023 US Open, New York
Jodie Burrage in the first round of the 2023 US Open, New York | (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Tennis | US Open 2023 | Jodie Burrage anchors day of British action and earns match-up with World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka

By Ros Satar

  • Jodie Burrage def. Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-4
  • Burrage v Aryna Sabalenka [2]
  • H2H: First Meeting
NEW YORK, USA – Jodie Burrage made a winning start to her first US Open main draw campaign and will face Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in round two.

 

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Jodie Burrage def. Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-4

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Jodie Burrage was acting as the anchor of a remarkable day for British tennis. With qualifier Lily Miyazaki having already gone through on day one, the rest of the British contingent were all in action on day two.

Burrage took on the far more tour-experienced Anna Blinkova in what could have honestly been seen as a free hit and hit she did.

It was the Brit with the early break at the first changeover, and she never looked in danger of relinquishing that lead, taking the lead with her second set point.

It was a competitive second set, but Blinkova never brought up break point on the Burrage serve, with the Brit squandering one chance mid-set, but making no mistake in the penultimate game, breaking the Russian to love.

Burrage needed just the one match point to score her first US Open main draw win and set up a second round clash with the World No. 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

 

Jodie Burrage v Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: First Meeting

 Jodie Burrage v Aryna Sabalenka [2] H2H: First Meeting
US Open New York, USA
Hard (O) Prize Money: $123,000
Second on Louis Armstrong, not before 1pm (6pm BST) Sky <- Subscription required

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022)

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H2H: Jodie Burrage (WR 96) Aryna Sabalenka (WR 2)
Tournament Previous Best Qualification (2021, 2022) SF (2021, 2022)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 36.3 36.4
Return Points Won % 43.8 45.1
Break Point Conversion % 44.4 44.2
Break Points Saved % 46.7 65.6
Total Points Won % 50.7 54.5

Perhaps surprisingly their return stats and break point conversion percentages are quite close but looking over the broader picture, Sabalenka has proved to be far more clutch when it comes to getting out of trouble on her serve,

 

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

Although it looked as though Sabalenka breezed through her first round, she was broken three times before she locked in and rode out the storm. With the number one at play, it looks like a tough ask for Burrage to deliver a shock here, but the second round will catapult her to another career high, and it means she can start getting into better tournaments and building on a successful summer.

Prediction: Sabalenka in straight sets.

 

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