Burrage is having last laugh now the pain is behind her

A YEAR ago, Jodie Burrage made a name for herself by giving some Percy Pig sweets to a sickly ball boy

- Matt Majendie

This year, she is into the second round for the first time and is poised to enter the world’s top 100, having served with balls bloodied by a ball kid, who had cut a finger.

She was left asking herself in the aftermath, “why does this always happen when I’m playing?” after guaranteeing herself an £85,000 payday for reaching the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Caty McNally.

For a player who nearly gave up on tennis after three ankle surgeries and being written off by all and sundry, success has been a long time coming.

After a seismic day in her career, the 24-year-old said: “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries throughout my career, and a lot of people telling me that I couldn’t get to the top, wouldn’t be a player when I was younger.

“After my third ankle operation, my mind had decided that was it. Somehow, I got back on the horse with help from family and friends, and my boyfriend really helped me push through that not-so-nice time.